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The striking sea duck with a distinctive knob on its bill glides gracefully through northern coastal waters.

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Velvet Scoter is a large sea duck with a distinctive appearance. Males are predominantly velvety black with a white wing patch and a small white eye crescent. They have a bulbous orange bill with a black base and tip.

Females are brown with two light patches on the face. Both sexes have red legs and feet, though these are often submerged. Juveniles resemble females but with duller plumage.

Size

Length

51cm to 58cm

Wingspan

90cm to 99cm

Weight

1.2kg to 2kg

Colours

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Brown

Beak Colour

Orange Black Red

Leg Colour

Red

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

Grey

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Brown

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Velvet Scoter can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Velvet Scoter can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Velvet Scoter is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Velvet Scoters breed in subarctic regions across northern Europe and Asia. During winter, they migrate to coastal waters in temperate zones. They prefer shallow marine areas with abundant shellfish beds.

In the UK, they are winter visitors to eastern coasts, particularly off Scotland and northeast England. Some non-breeding birds may remain in these areas year-round.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Velvet Scoter. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons