Melanitta nigra
The Common Scoter is a medium-sized sea duck with a distinctive appearance. Males are entirely black with a bulbous base to their bill, which features a yellow-orange patch. Their eyes are dark, and they have a rounded head profile.
Females are predominantly dark brown with paler cheeks and throat. Juveniles resemble females but may have more mottled plumage.
Length
43cm to 54cm
Wingspan
79cm to 90cm
Weight
800g to 1.5kg
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Common Scoters inhabit coastal marine environments, preferring shallow waters with sandy or muddy bottoms. They breed in freshwater lakes and pools in Arctic tundra and taiga regions across northern Europe and Asia.
During winter, they migrate to temperate coastal areas. In the UK, large numbers can be found along the east coast of England and Scotland, as well as in the Irish Sea and off the coast of Wales.
Sea level to 100 meters
Temperate, Subarctic
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Common Scoter. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
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