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Black Scoter

Melanitta americana

Near Threatened

Flügelspannweite

44,0 cm

Gewicht

1046,1 g

Familie

Anatidae

Ordnung

Anseriformes

On this page

Über uns

A medium-sized sea duck (~1 kg) in family Anatidae, males entirely black with a bold orange-yellow knob at the bill base. Breeds on boreal and tundra lakes of North America and eastern Russia; winters coastally. Dives for mollusks and crustaceans. Near Threatened following population declines linked to habitat loss on breeding grounds.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Flügelspannweite	44,0 cm	17.3 in
Gewicht	1046,1 g	36.90 oz

Identifizierung

Gefieder

Male is pure glossy black throughout with a prominent bright orange-yellow knob at bill base. Female is dark sooty-brown with pale buff cheeks and foreneck contrasting with darker cap and hindneck.

Habitat & Range

🌿 Feuchtgebiet 🌾 Grasland

Geografisches Verbreitungsgebiet

Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of Alaska and northern Canada. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and Florida.

Diet & Feeding

Dives for molluscs, particularly mussels and clams, in coastal waters. Takes aquatic insects and plant matter on freshwater breeding lakes.

Erhaltungsstatus

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List

Verhalten & Brutverhalten

Nistverhalten

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 30-31 days. Fledging: 45-50 days.

Gelegegröße

5-11

Lautgebung

Gesang

Male produces a low, melodious whistle; female gives a harsh, grating call. Closely related to Common Scoter; voice very similar; heard on North American Pacific and Atlantic coasts in winter.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordnung	Anseriformes (Wasservögel)
Familie	Anatidae (Enten, Gänse und Schwäne)
Genus	Melanitta
Arten	Melanitta americana

Distribution

Black Scoter has been recorded in 5 countries.

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Vorhanden Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇩🇰 Dänemark 🇨🇴 Kolumbien 🇳🇴 Norwegen 🇸🇪 Schweden 🇺🇸 Vereinigte Staaten

External Databases

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What does the Black Scoter eat?

Dives for molluscs, particularly mussels and clams, in coastal waters. Takes aquatic insects and plant matter on freshwater breeding lakes.

Where does the Black Scoter live?

Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of Alaska and northern Canada. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and Florida.

Is the Black Scoter endangered?

The Black Scoter has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

How does the Black Scoter nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 30-31 days. Fledging: 45-50 days.

What does the Black Scoter sound like?

Male produces a low, melodious whistle; female gives a harsh, grating call. Closely related to Common Scoter; voice very similar; heard on North American Pacific and Atlantic coasts in winter.

How big is the Black Scoter?

The Black Scoter has a wingspan of 44.0 cm, weight of 1046.1 g.

What order and family does the Black Scoter belong to?

The Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.