540 BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



grounds, do much flying around in small 

 flocks. It is difficult to separate the male 

 American Scoter from the Surf Scoter in 

 flight unless the white head-patches of the 

 latter are visible. The white speculum of 

 the White-winged Scoter will prevent con- 

 fusion with that species. 



VOICE. A prolonged musical whistle, 

 who-oo-hoo and a plaintive, coar-loo. 



LIFE STORY 



The American Scoter is the least known, the rarest, and the least 

 scoter-like of the three scoters, or "coots," as they are commonly called. 

 The drake is the only American duck which is truly and entirely black, 

 unrelieved by any white or other markings. This species is more closely 

 related to the English Black Duck or Common Scoter than it is to either 

 of the other scoters of this continent; by some authorities it is considered 

 as belonging to the same species as the Common Scoter of Europe. It 

 differs from the other scoters of this continent not only in being more 

 duck-like in appearance, particularly in the shape of the head and bill, 

 but in many of its habits and much of its behaviour. Its flight is finer; 

 it sits differently on the water, with the bill horizontal or pointing slight- 

 ly upward, while in the other scoters the bill is held downwards; it is a 

 restless, active duck, indulging in frequent rambling flights; it loves the 

 exposed rocky points and ledges of the coasts; and it is rarely found in- 

 land, as are the other two species. 



"The American Scoter is not easily recognized in flight; its size, 

 shape, gait, and general appearance are all much like those of the Surf 

 Scoter, from which only the adult males can be distinguished by the head 

 and bill markings at short range; the females and young of these two 

 species can not be distinguished in life at any considerable distance, and 

 many gunners do not recognize them in the hand. Its flight is not quite 

 so heavy as that of the White-winged Scoter. All the scoters fly more 

 swiftly than they appear to be going, but at nothing like the speed at 

 which they have been reported to fly; I doubt if they ever fly at over 60 

 miles an hour or even attain that speed except under the most favorable 

 circumstances. Migrating flocks in the fall usually fly high in fair 

 weather, but in stormy or very windy weather the flocks sweep along 

 close to the water and usually well inshore, following the indentations 

 of the coast line and seldom flying over the land, except on their oc- 

 casional visits to inland ponds. The flocks vary greatly in size and form, 

 some are great irregular masses or bunches, others are strung out in long 

 straight or curving lines, and sometimes they form in more or less regu- 

 lar V or U shapes. The wings make a whistling sound in flight, which 

 the gunners imitate to attract the attention of passing flocks. All the 

 scoters are strong, fast, and tireless swimmers, either on the surface or 

 below it; they dive quickly and neatly and can remain under water for a 

 long time" (Bent, 1925). 



