Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca
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Melanitta fusca
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Mass
~2 kg
Habitat
Wetlands and marshes
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The Velvet Scoter is a large sea duck with a heavy body and a long, broad bill. The male is mostly black with a white spot by the eye, while the female looks browner and much less glossy.
It often moves in pairs, and in the breeding season males gather in small groups for noisy displays. It dives for food and can stay underwater for about a minute while searching in deeper water.
It breeds in northern Europe and across northern Asia, on wooded lakes and near coasts. It feeds on molluscs and small fish, and in winter moves to milder waters, including the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
Quick Facts
The Velvet Scoter is a large sea duck with a heavy body and a long, broad bill. The male is mostly black with a white spot by the eye, while the female looks browner and much less glossy.
It often moves in pairs, and in the breeding season males gather in small groups for noisy displays. It dives for food and can stay underwater for about a minute while searching in deeper water.
It breeds in northern Europe and across northern Asia, on wooded lakes and near coasts. It feeds on molluscs and small fish, and in winter moves to milder waters, including the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.
How to recognize it
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Melanitta fusca Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Velvet scoter Encyclopedia article