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Difference between revisions of "Common Scoter" - BirdForum Opus

(Amend GSearch by adding GSearch for videos, Add Catetgory:videos)
(→‎References: References updated)
 
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==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
*Gregarious, may form very large flocks, especially with [[Velvet Scoter]].<br />
 
*Gregarious, may form very large flocks, especially with [[Velvet Scoter]].<br />
*Pointed tail is often raised.<br />
 
 
*Spring migration takes place overland at night.
 
*Spring migration takes place overland at night.
 
*Autumn migration is along the coast during the day.
 
*Autumn migration is along the coast during the day.
====Flight====
 
*Flies low to the water in long lines. Flight is strong and rapid.<br />
 
*Dives with a small leap.
 
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes crustaceans and molluscs, insects and their larvae,  fish eggs and vegetation such as duck weed while nesting on freshwater.  
 
The diet includes crustaceans and molluscs, insects and their larvae,  fish eggs and vegetation such as duck weed while nesting on freshwater.  
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
The nest is built on the ground.  The clutch consists of 5-7 eggs and are incubated for  27 to 31 days.
 
The nest is built on the ground.  The clutch consists of 5-7 eggs and are incubated for  27 to 31 days.
 +
====Action====
 +
*Flies low to the water in long lines. Flight is strong and rapid.<br />
 +
*Dives with a small leap.
 +
*They do a very distinctive wing flap, where they jerk their head down and then up.
 +
*Pointed tail is often raised.
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
<flashmp3>Melanitta nigra (song).mp3</flashmp3><br/>
 
<flashmp3>Melanitta nigra (song).mp3</flashmp3><br/>
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Avibase
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thOct23}}#Avibase
 
#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
 
#Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
 
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
 
#Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
Line 41: Line 42:
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
 
#[http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1525/auk.2010.127.3.726 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds]
 
#[http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1525/auk.2010.127.3.726 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds]
 +
#Birdforum Member Observations
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 +
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Melanitta+nigra}}
+
{{GSearch|"Melanitta nigra" {{!}} "Common Scoter"}}
Search by common name for videos:
+
<br />
{{GSearch|"Common Scoter", video}}
+
{{VSearch|"Melanitta nigra" {{!}} "Common Scoter"}}
 +
{{GS-checked}}1
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
 
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Melanitta]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Melanitta]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 20:46, 22 November 2023

Male
Photo by Rob
The Netherlands, February 2003
Melanitta nigra

Identification

45-49cm
Male: All black; very bulbous bill with some yellow.
Female: Brown with pale cheeks and may have some yellow around the nostils.

Female
Photo by IanF
Hartlepool, Cleveland. UK, December 2008

Similar Species

Females can be confused with female Red-crested Pochard which has a white wing bar and Long-tailed Duck which has a smaller bill and much whiter underparts.

Distribution

Northern Eurasia; winters western Europe to Mediterranean and Caspian Sea. There are a few breeding areas in northern Scotland and Ireland.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

It was formerly thought to be conspecific with Black Scoter.

Habitat

Winters on sea-coasts, usually at some distance from the shore.
Breeds on inland lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra.

Photo by Carpie
Terschelling, Holland, December 2007

Behaviour

  • Gregarious, may form very large flocks, especially with Velvet Scoter.
  • Spring migration takes place overland at night.
  • Autumn migration is along the coast during the day.

Diet

The diet includes crustaceans and molluscs, insects and their larvae, fish eggs and vegetation such as duck weed while nesting on freshwater.

Breeding

The nest is built on the ground. The clutch consists of 5-7 eggs and are incubated for 27 to 31 days.

Action

  • Flies low to the water in long lines. Flight is strong and rapid.
  • Dives with a small leap.
  • They do a very distinctive wing flap, where they jerk their head down and then up.
  • Pointed tail is often raised.

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Melanitta nigra (song).mp3</flashmp3>

References

  1. Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
  4. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  5. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  6. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
  7. 51st supplement to the AOU checklist of North American birds
  8. Birdforum Member Observations

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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