Black Scoter

Overview

Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) is a species of Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae) in the order Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese and Swans). A chunky sea duck, males jet black with an orange-yellow bill knob; winters in dense flocks offshore; dives for mussels and crabs.

Scientific Classification

Genus: Melanitta; binomial: Melanitta americana; authority: (Swainson, 1832). Typical size: 43-53cm. Average lifespan: 5-10 years.

Distribution

Breeding range: the Palearctic and the Nearctic. Non-breeding range: to c Japan (w North Pacific coast); Aleutian Is., e North Pacific coast to c California; Newfoundland to n Florida (w North Atlantic coast).

Conservation Status

This taxon is listed as Extant (living) in the IOC World Bird List.

Remarks

Melanitta americana is split from M. nigra (Livezey 1995; Collinson et al. 2006; Sangster 2009). Accepted by BOU (Sangster et al. 2005) and AOU (2010; NACC Supplement 51, but English names were mixed up).