Is the black scoter a duck?
Table of Contents
Black Scoter Photos and Videos Medium-sized sea duck with a fairly small, straight bill. All black except for yellow knob at base of bill.
How big is a black scoter?
43 to 49 cm
The black scoter or American scoter (Melanitta americana) is a large sea duck, 43 to 49 cm (17 to 19 in) in length. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek melas “black” and netta “duck”.
Where are black scoters found?
Find This Bird Black Scoters form large winter flocks along both Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, though they are scarcer south of the Carolinas and northern California. During late autumn, tens of thousands may migrate southward past prominent headlands or peninsulas.
Are surf scoters endangered?
Least Concern (Population decreasing)Surf scoter / Conservation status
What do black scoters eat?
insects
Food. Breeding Black Scoters consume large quantities of insects and their larvae, notably caddisfly, mayfly, and beetles, small mollusks and crustaceans (such as amphipods), as well as fish eggs. Their summer diet also includes vegetation, including iris, pondweed, duckweed, and milfoil.
Where do Scoters nest?
Nests are usually well concealed on the ground beneath vegetation (tree branches, fallen trees) or rocky ledges, a short distance from a lake but generally well upland from marsh vegetation.
Can Coots walk on land?
You can find American Coots by scanning lakes and ponds for a small, all-black bird with a bright white bill. They may be at the edges, among vegetation, or out in open water; you may even see them walking around (not waddling) on land on their fairly long, yellow-green legs.
How fast do Scoters fly?
Going the distance
| Top speed | Range | |
|---|---|---|
| Bird | 15 mph (24kph) | 15 miles (24km) |
| Lime-S | 14.8 mph (23.8kph) | 37 miles (59.5km) |
| Spin | 15 mph (24kph) | 15 miles (24km) |
| Scoot | 30 mph (48kph) | 20 miles (32km) |
How deep do surf scoters dive?
360 in
How deep can a surf scoter dive? When the bird is feeding, they spring forward and dive with their wings half-open. They only dive in waters that have a maximum depth of 360 in (914.4 cm). They are usually seen diving through wave crests when they forage in the areas of breaking waves.