202 



GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



Geneeal distribution — North America. Breeds from Sitka to Kotzebue 

 Sound, Alaska, and from Great Slave Lake and northern Quebec north to the 

 Arctic coast; winters on Pacific coast from Aleutian Islands south to Lower 

 California, interiorly on the Great Lakes, and on Atlantic coast from Nova 

 Scotia to North Carolina, rarely to Florida. Non-breeders occur in summer 

 far south of the breeding range (modified from A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 82). 



Distribution in California — Abundant winter visitant along entire sea- 

 coast, exclusively on salt water. Migrants arrive in numbers during October 

 and November and leave in March and April. Some non-breeders remain here 

 during the summer months. 



The Svirf Scoter is the most abundant of the three species of black 

 sea ducks which visit California during the winter season. From 

 October until April it is found in considerable numbers on all of our 



Fig. 29. Side of bill of male Surf Scoter. Natural size. 



bays and also on the adjacent ocean either inside or outside the surf. 

 In the summer most of the birds of this species repair to their breed- 

 ing ground in the far north in the northern portions of Alaska and 

 Canada ; but some non-breeding individuals, wliich are believed to be 

 birds less than two years old, remain here throughout the season. 

 During its sojourn here the Surf Scoter is restricted to salt water and 

 has not been reported from any fresh water situation within the state. 

 The general black plumage relieved by patches of pure Avhite on 

 the forehead and back of the head easily identify the male even at a 

 distance. The white iris and the swollen black-and-orange-marked 

 bill, which can be seen at moderate range, both add to its striking 

 appearance. The female is less conspicuously marked and to her 

 general brownish black coloration there are added only a few whitish 

 patches on the head and chin. Her feet and bill are both black, and 

 lack the brilliant colors displayed in her mate. In any plumage the 

 absence of a white patch on the wing easily separates this species 



