Species:

Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)

Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Change species:
Main Images:
Prev species:
Length (cm):
51-58
50-71
Wingspan (cm):
90-99
80-108
Weight (gram):
1100-2000
1500-2800
Size group:
Crow-size
Bigger than a crow
Main Texts:
Appearance:

White secondaries the most striking feature in all plumages. Generally heavy built with large bill, heavy head, thick neck and short tail. Male: black with white crescent below eye and partly orange bill. Female sooty black with variable light patches at lore and cheek. Flaps it's wings with a raised head when on water. Dives without jumping and with wings slightly open. Swimming birds may not always show white secondaries. Tends to form less dense flocks than Common Scoter, often with birds in single file.

Sound:

Seldom heard. Calls: Short accented "tup tup tup" and a shivering "gahhahahaha".

Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Appearance:

Large diving duck with elongated, triangular head profile and short neck. Male: white upperparts and black belly, black cap and two light green patches at back of head. Females are mostly barred in brown. Differs from King Eider by extended feathering on light tipped bill, triangular head profile with less steep forehead and lack of v-barred flanks. Flying birds gives a more elongated impression than King Eiders.

Sound:

Males call a typical, pleasant, clear, 2-3 second long "aaaooooooh". Starting on a low note, slowly ascending and ending on a descending note. Usually accompanied by the female "ga ga ga ga".

Display-call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:Paul Williams www.IronAmmonitePhotography.com, Licence,Link.

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage
Several different sounds of the species