|
|
|
Velvet Scoter
(Melanitta fusca)
: "Velvet Duck"
 German name(s): "Samtente", "Samt-Ente"
Size: 51-58 cm; wing span 79-97 cm
|
|
 |
Similar
species |
|
|
 |
Physical description |
|
 Click here for a physical description
Velvet Scoters are large sea ducks.
Their plumage is
dimorphic, i.e.
males
and
females
are different.
Male
Velvet Scoters are all-black, except for a small white spot
under the eyes. Only a small white spot may be seen of the
speculum on the folded wings. In flight it appears as a white
bar on the trailing edge of the wing.
Males have pale irises and an orange-yellow bill.
Females
are very dark grey with inconspicuous vermiculation. The only
distinguishing features are faint yellowish loral spots and
whitish spots behind the ear coverts.
In females
the white speculum is more prominently visible on the folded
wing as a white stripe.
Females
have dark irises and a dark-grey bill.
Juveniles resemble
females,
but with more clearly defined spots on the head and (inconspicuous)
vermiculation on the body
plumage.
|
 |
Taxonomy, classification |
|
See Velvet
Scoter at Wikipedia  .
|
|
 |
Range, habitat, finding this species |
|
Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Velvet Scoter is available
HERE
.
Velvet Scoters are a migratory Eurasian species.
Their breeding range extends from northern Europe into
western Asia, plus a few sites in eastern Turkey,
south of the Caucasus mountain range.
They overwinter in coastal areas and along major rivers
of western Scandinavia, Britain and of central to
southern Europe, plus along the south-eastern coastline
of the Black Sea and the southern coastline of the
Caspian Sea.
In Europe Velvet Scoters are found as breeding migrants in
highland lakes of Scandinavia, in the border region of Norway
and Sweden, in much of Finland (but not the southern lake
districts) and, along the Finnish/Russian border region to
Estonia.
Their breeding range extends further eastwards through
north-western Russia, from the Kola peninsula via the
northern seaboard to the Ural mountains.
They overwinter along the coastal fringe of Norway, along
the East coast of Denmark and parts of the South coast of
the Baltic Sea, along the West coast of Germany and the
Benelux countries into France, to about the Gulf of Biscaye.
They are also found mostly around the East coast of Britain.
Apart from small areas along the Cote d'Azure and the Veneto,
they are not usually found along the Mediterranean Sea.
Inland, they overwinter in lakes and rivers of Poland,
and also the major rivers such as the upper Rhine, the
Po, and most of the Danube and the West coast of the Black
Sea.
Movements during migration of birds overwintering in coastal
areas usually roughly follow coastlines.
Velvet Scoters breed in coastal wetlands with saline and brackish
water, as well as (inland) freshwater wetlands, such as lakes in
mountain ranges and tundra.
During the winter, with the
exception of major rivers such as the Danube, parts of the Rhine
and the Po and some lakes and rivers in Poland, they are a more
coastal species.
|
 |
Sightings |
|
Click here for sighting information
D. Wilczynska reports spotting a Velvet Scoter on the river
Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, in April 2019.
All sighting and photographic information presented on this page
has been kindly contributed by D. Wilczynska.
|
 |
Photos |
|
 |
ADULT |
|
 |
FEMALE |
|
Lateral view of a female Velvet Scoter looking towards the
observer; note the white speculum resembling a white stripe
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a female Velvet Scoter; note the characteristic
diffuse spot on the lore and the second spot behind the ear coverts
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2019]
Dorsal view of a female Velvet Scoter
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, April 2019]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
