COMMON SCOTER. 7 1 



Common Scoter. CEdemia nigra (Linn.). 



The Common Scoter or Black Duck (Plate 27) nests regularly 

 in the north of Scotland, and has nested in at least one place in 

 Ireland for some years. It is, however, best known as an 

 abundant visitor to our shores, not merely in winter but at all 

 seasons, for many immature or otherwise non-breeding birds 

 remain during summer. The breeding range extends across 

 northern Europe and Asia, and in winter it is abundant along 

 the Atlantic coasts. 



The black Scoter, blacker than any other duck, is a heavy- 

 looking bird, even when, like a cork, it rides buoyantly on the 

 waves. It is seldom very near shore, therefore difficult to see 

 clearly, but in a good light its one colour spot, an orange patch 

 upon its bill, is conspicuous ; it is the drake only who sports this 

 label, and the base of his bill is much swollen ; the duck is 

 a grey-cheeked brown bird. Drake and duck alike, when 

 swimming at ease, carry their pointed tails elevated like the 

 Pintail ; this pose catches the eye when the birds are with 

 other diving ducks. When swimming fast the tail is lowered. 

 The absence of white marks on the head prevents confusion 

 with the Velvet-Scoter, the absence of the wing bar is less 

 reliable, since that of the Velvet is often concealed by the 

 flanks of the swimming bird. The majority of the winter birds 

 reach our seas in September, but August arrivals are common ; 

 in September and April there are large passage movements. 

 All winter the birds are common, and, at any rate off the 

 Lancashire, Welsh, Northumberland, and Yorkshire coasts, 

 numbers of immature or other non-breeding birds remain the 

 whole summer. How long the Scoter takes to reach maturity 

 does not seem to be known, but many of these summering birds 

 are apparently in full adult dress. 



The Scoter is certainly a salt-water duck ; except when 

 nesting, many writers affirm, it seldom if ever voluntarily goes 



