Sea and Bay Ducks 



us in winter, for the hardy old drakes do not often migrate so far 

 south. By August ice has begun to form over their northern 

 fishing grounds, and the flocks move a degree nearer us, flying 

 swiftly and powerfully in a direct course, not far above the water, 

 and almost never over land. 



American Scoter 



(Oidemia americana) 



Called also: BLACK, OR SEA COOT; BOOBY; BLACK 

 SCOTER ; BUTTER-BILLED COOT ; BROAD-BILLED 

 COOT. 



Length — 19 to 20 inches. 



Male — Entire plumage black, more glossy above. Upper half of 

 bill, which is tumid, or bulging, is yellow or orange at the 

 base. 



Female — Sooty brown above, waved with obscure dusky lines; 

 throat and sides of head whitish; dirty white underneath; 

 bill dark, but not bulging nor parti-colored. Young resem- 

 ble the mother. 



Range — Seacoasts and large bodies of inland waters of northern 

 North America; nesting from Labrador inland, and migrat- 

 ing in winter to New England and the Middle Atlantic States 

 and to California. 



Season — Winter resident and visitor. 



The three species of coots, or scoters, that come out of the 

 north to visit us in winter have neither fine feathers nor edible 

 flesh to recommend them to popular notice; nor do they seem to 

 possess any unique traits of character or singular habits to excite 

 our lively interest. Their chief concern in life appears to be 

 diving for mussels, clams, small fry, and mollusks in the estuaries 

 of rivers and shallow sounds along our coasts. Some go to large 

 bodies of inland waters for the same purpose. As this active 

 exercise toughens their muscles to a leather-like quality, and as 

 the fish food gives their reddish, dark flesh a rank flavor, the 

 poultry dealer who sells one of these birds to an uninitiated 

 housekeeper for black duck loses a customer. 



Most friendly with its own kin, the American coot may 

 usually be found in flocks of white-winged and surf scoters, 



1 iO 



