SUBF SCOTER 201 



attracts a few amateur gunners in places where the species is abundant, 

 or wliere more desirable birds are lacking. 



The comparative present and past status of the White-winged 

 Scoter in California is not known. Apparently it is maintaining its 

 numbers. As it usually remains on open water and is there difficult 

 to approach, and as it is a very poor offering for the table, this scoter 

 is not greatly sought after by the hunter, and so at the present time 

 its persistence seems assured. Also, its food-supply is not being 

 reduced by encroaching civilization as in the case witli tlie fresh-water 

 ducks. 



Surf Scoter 

 Oidemia perspicillata (Linnaeus) 



Other names — Surf Duck; Sea Coot; OEdemia pcrspiciUata var. troirbridgci ; 

 Pelionetta perspicillata; Pelionetta troivbridgei. 



Description — Adult male: Whole plumage deep black above and brownish 

 black beneath, except for two triangular white patches, one across forehead 

 in front of eyes, the other on back of head; top of bill feathered forward to 

 nostrils; large squarish or rounded spot on swollen side of upper mandible near 

 base, black, bounded behind by ' ' orange, ' ' top of bill to above nostrils ' ' deep 

 reddish-orange," nail "dingy greyish-yellow," bill otherwise "bluish-white, 

 yellow" or "flesh-coloured"; iris "yellowish-white"; legs and feet "orange- 

 red," webs and joints "dusky," claws "blaf*k" (Audubon, 1843, VI, p. 341). 

 Total length "about 20.00-22.00" inches (508-558 mm.) (Ridgway, 1900, p. 

 112); folded wing 9.2.5-9.60 (235-244); bill from tip to limit of feathers on 

 culmen 1.32-1.55 (33.5-39.3); tarsus 1.66-1.81 (42.2-45.9) (eight specimens 

 from Alaska and California). Adult female: Top of head black; rest of 

 plumage blackish brown, except for indistinct light areas on chin and between 

 bill and eye, and two small white patches below and behind eye and on back of 

 head; iris "brown"; bill "black, with greenish or brownish tinge"; legs and 

 feet "brown," webs "black" (Sanford, Bishop and Van Dyke, 1903, p. 182). 

 Total length "about 18.00-19.00" inches (457-483 mm.) (Ridgway, loc. cit.); 

 folded wing 9.00-9.08 (^228-231); bill from tip to limit of feathers on culmen 

 1.49-1.63 (37.8-41.3); tarsus 1.61-1.71 (40.8-43.4) (three specimens from Cali- 

 fornia). Juvenile plumage: Similar to that of adult female, but lighter in tone, 

 approaching dull white on middle of lower surface of body; whole plumage of 

 softer texture. Natal plumage: Not known to us. 



Marks for field identification — Large size, stout build, short head and neck, 

 black or black appearing coloration, presence of white patch on back of head 

 in male (whence the name "skunk-head"), and absence of white patch on wing. 

 In hand the presence of feathers on top of bill (culmen) extending forward to 

 nostrils easily identifies all ages of both sexes. 



Voice — "A low guttural croak like the clucking of a hen" (Mackay, 1891Z), 

 p. 284); in mating season a clear whistle (Nelson, 1887, p. 82). 



Nest — On ground near water, well concealed, usually built of grasses and 

 lined with dark-colored down. 



Eggs — 5 to 8, ovate to elliptical ovate, measuring in inches, 2.25 to 2.30 by 

 1.60 (in millimeters, 57.0 to 58.4 by 40.6) ; color ivory white to pale buff 

 (authors). 



