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Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca

Vulnerable

Flügelspannweite

51,8 cm

Gewicht

1635,1666666666667 g

Familie

Anatidae

Ordnung

Anseriformes

Über uns

A large sea duck (~1.6 kg) of the family Anatidae, males black with a white wing patch and yellow-sided bill. Breeds on lakes and rivers of northern Eurasia; winters on coastal waters of Europe. Forages by diving for mollusks and crustaceans. Vulnerable due to significant population declines attributed to hunting pressure and habitat degradation.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Flügelspannweite	51,8 cm	20.4 in
Gewicht	1635,1666666666667 g	57.68 oz

Identifizierung

Gefieder

Male is jet black overall with a small white teardrop below eye and white speculum visible in flight; yellow-sided bill with black knob at base. Female is dark brown with two whitish facial spots.

Habitat & Range

🌿 Feuchtgebiet 🌾 Grasland 🏖️ Küste 🌲 Wald

Geografisches Verbreitungsgebiet

Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and western Siberia. Winters on coasts of northwestern Europe, the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.

Diet & Feeding

Dives for mussels, cockles, and crustaceans in coastal and brackish waters. Freshwater insects taken on breeding grounds.

Erhaltungsstatus

Vulnerable

IUCN Red List

Verhalten & Brutverhalten

Nistverhalten

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 27-28 days. Fledging: 50-55 days.

Gelegegröße

7-9

Lautgebung

Gesang

Male emits a low, melodious whistled note; female produces a guttural, rasping call. The male's soft whistle contrasts with the female's harsh, buzzy alarm call on European coasts.

Taxonomie

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

Distribution

Velvet Scoter has been recorded in 5 countries.

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Vorhanden Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgien 🇩🇰 Dänemark 🇳🇴 Norwegen 🇸🇪 Schweden 🇺🇸 Vereinigte Staaten

External Databases

Häufig gestellte Fragen

What does the Velvet Scoter eat?

Dives for mussels, cockles, and crustaceans in coastal and brackish waters. Freshwater insects taken on breeding grounds.

Where does the Velvet Scoter live?

Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and western Siberia. Winters on coasts of northwestern Europe, the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.

Is the Velvet Scoter endangered?

The Velvet Scoter has a conservation status of Vulnerable.

How does the Velvet Scoter nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 27-28 days. Fledging: 50-55 days.

What does the Velvet Scoter sound like?

Male emits a low, melodious whistled note; female produces a guttural, rasping call. The male's soft whistle contrasts with the female's harsh, buzzy alarm call on European coasts.

How big is the Velvet Scoter?

The Velvet Scoter has a wingspan of 51.8 cm, weight of 1635.1666666666667 g.

What order and family does the Velvet Scoter belong to?

The Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.