The White-winged Scoter 



ducks which show no trace of white either on head or wing. And if 

 the black is black enough to assure us that we are looking at male birds, 

 and especially if we catch a glimpse of orange at the base of the upper 

 mandible, we may know that we are seeing the somewhat rare American 

 Scoter. These birds are very abundant in Alaskan waters, but they do 

 not venture south as often, nor in such numbers, as do the two succeeding 

 species. They are somewhat smaller than the other birds, but there is 

 nothing in habit or behavior to distinguish them during their summer 

 residence from their better known compeers. Like the latter, they have 

 a perverse habit of dallying in our waters through the summer season, 

 but we have no slightest reason to suppose that they nest anywhere 

 south of Alaska. 



No. 368 



White-winged Scoter 



A. 0. U. No. 165. Melanitta fusca dixoni (Brooks). 



Synonyms. — White-winged Coot. Sea Coot. Scooter. American Vel- 

 vet Scoter. Black Duck. Squaw Duck. Fish Duck. Clam Digger. Sea 

 Duck. Dixon's Scoter. 



Description. — Adult male: Speculum white; a white spot below and including 

 eye; entire remaining plumage deep brownish black; cuhnen gibbous at base, but 

 nearly covered by feathers which reach laterally almost to nostrils; loral feathering 

 usually, but not always, extending further forward than frontal feathers. Bill black, 

 varied by orange-red on lateral and terminal portions (but not on knob or edges). 

 Black less intense in winter. Adult female and immature: Plain dusky brown, a 

 little lighter below; and with two dull whitish spots on side of head, on lore, and ear- 

 coverts; speculum white; extension of loral feathers as in adult male, but bill only 

 slightly gibbous, and with less orange. Length 482.6-609.6 (19.00-24.00); wing 279.4 

 11.00) ; tail 82.6 (3.25) ; bill along culmen 40.6 (1.60) ; anterior margin of loral feathering 

 to tip of bill 39.4 (1.55); tarsus 50.8 (2.00). 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size or larger; plumage black or dark brown 

 (female); white wing-patch (speculum) distinctive. 



Nesting. — Does not breed in California. Nest: On the ground under a bush, 

 often at a considerable distance from water; lined heavily with twigs, dried plants, 

 and moss, with a few feathers and down. Eggs: 6 to 10; "pale salmon buff or flesh 

 color" (Bent). Av. size 68.1 x 46.5 (2.68 x 1.83). Season: Late June; one brood. 



Range of Melanitta fusca. — Northern portion of Northern Hemisphere, south in 

 winter to the Black and Caspian seas, China, Lower California, and Florida. 



Range of M. f. dixoni. — Western North America and eastern Asia. Breeds 

 from northeastern Siberia, northern Alaska, and northern Mackenzie, south to north- 

 eastern Washington, Alberta, and northern North Dakota. Winters along the Asiatic 

 Coast to China and Japan; and on the Pacific Coast of America from Unalaska Island 

 to San Quentin Bay, Lower California; casually in the interior perhaps to Louisiana. 



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