[170] BIRDS OF OREGON 



Downy young: No specimens, the youngest known being two half-grown young, de- 

 scribed as follows: "Although as large as teal, these birds are still wholly downy, 

 with no trace of appearing plumage. The smaller, a female, has the crown, down 

 to and including the eyes, a deep glossy 'clove brown' in color; the color of the back 

 varies from 'olive brown' anteriorly to 'clove brown' on the rump; the sides of the 

 head and throat are grayish white, mottled with 'clove brown'; the entire neck is 

 pale 'clove brown'; the colors of the upper parts shade off gradually into paler sides 

 and a whitish belly. In younger birds these colors would probably be darker, 

 brighter, and more contrasted, as they are in other species." (Bent) Si%e: "Length 

 10-11, wing 9.15-9.75, bill 1.30-1.60." (Bailey) Nest: Of plant stems, lined with 

 down, usually concealed beneath a bush near the water. Eggs: 5 to 9, cartridge buff. 

 DISTRIBUTION. General: Breeds far north in northwestern Alaska and northern 

 Canada south to Mackenzie, James Bay, and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Winters south 

 to Florida, Great Lakes (occasionally to Louisiana), and Lower California. In 

 Oregon: Abundant permanent resident on coastal waters. Found only casually inland. 



THE SURF SCOTER, or Skunk Duck, is a very common species on the Oregon 

 coast, where it is a familiar inhabitant of the bays and lakes. It ranks 

 second only to its white-winged cousin and at times exceeds it in num- 

 bers, often being present in immense numbers from August to May and 

 in smaller numbers during June and July. These latter individuals are 

 undoubtedly nonbreeding birds, possibly recovered cripples as yet unable 

 to endure the long northward flight to the breeding grounds. We have 

 coastal records for every month, but our only inland record is of a bird 

 killed on the Columbia River at Portland, October 8, 19x8, and given to 

 Jewett. Little has appeared in Oregon literature regarding this abundant 

 species. It is curious that Townsend (1839) mentioned it as present but 

 omitted any reference to the White-winged Scoter, which at present is 

 equally abundant. 



The conspicuous head markings distinguish the male Surf Scoters, 

 either in the air or on the water. The females are more difficult to identify, 

 although they do show some traces of the head markings. The flight is 

 direct and much less labored than that of the White-winged Scoter, and 

 everything said about the skill of the latter in the surf applies equally to 

 this closely related species. While in Oregon, the feeding habits and 

 behavior of these two scoters are much the same, and the two are often 

 intermingled in great flocks, or rafts, just outside the breakers. 



American Scoter: 



Oidemia americana Swainson 



DESCRIPTION. "Plumage dark without white markings; eyes always brown. Adult 

 male: bill swollen back of nostrils, with a large yellow and red spot at base, includ- 

 ing nostrils; plumage black or sooty. Adult female: bill black, with a trace of yellow 

 at base in breeding plumage, not swollen at base; upper parts dusky brown, under 

 parts grayish brown. Young: like female but lighter and indistinctly barred below. 

 (Bailey) Downy young: "The downy young, when first hatched, is dark colored 

 above, varying from Trout's brown' or 'verona brown' to 'bister,' darkest on the 



