The White-winged Scoter 



Distribution in California. — Abundant migrant and winter resident along the 

 entire seacoast. The southward movement sets in in October and most of the north- 

 bound birds are cleared by May 1st; but a rather considerable population of non- 

 breeding birds tarries throughout the year. 



Authorities. — Gambel (QLdemia fusca), Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila., ser. 2, 

 i., 1849, p. 226 (Calif.); Bent, Auk, vol. xix., 1902, p. 171 (nesting habits, in N. D.); 

 Cooke, U. S. Dept. Agric, Bull. no. 185, 1915, p. 21, map (migration route); Howell, 

 Pac. Coast Avifauna, no. 12, 1917, p. 42 (s. Calif, ids.). 



THE SCOTERS are the characteristic salt-water ducks of middle 

 temperate latitudes, and in the aggregate they probably outnumber the 

 remaining winter residents of our coastal waters. Their exact distri- 

 bution is determined in part by the "fertility" of the beaches; in part by 

 the presence of kelp-beds; and especially by the outlines of favoring 

 reefs, mussel beds, and barnacle-covered rocks. Although not averse to 

 the open ocean, the birds frequent the quieter waters of bays and estua- 

 ries, which, naturally, yield a more abundant food supply. Thus, Hum- 

 boldt Bay, San Francisco Bay, Monterey Bay, and the lee-shores of the 

 Santa Barbara Islands are favorite places of resort. Brackish lagoons 

 claim their quota; but bodies of fresh water, even though near shore, 

 are seldom visited. I have, however, seen immature birds on several 

 occasions upon Laguna Blanca, which is fed by mountain springs. In 

 the interior, Scoters are occasionally seen upon the larger bodies of water; 

 and they winter in numbers upon the Great Lakes. 



Where the average distance of the resting bird from shore is not 

 determined by a line of breakers, it is likely to be a safe gun-shot. And 

 at that, few birds, save the Gulls, suffer much from the casual "hunter," 

 the miscreant who goes down to the beach just to see what he can kill. 

 For one bird that is retrieved by the listless hunter, six are left to rot, 

 when finally cast up by the tide, or else to drag out a miserable exist- 

 ence to which a swift death were preferable. 



The feeding of the Sea Coot is governed largely by the phases of the 

 tide; but it is probable that the night tides are more closely followed 

 than those which occur in daylight. At any rate the birds seem to spend 

 an enormous amount of time just resting, and we presume they must 

 make up for it by a night shift. 



The Coots feed chiefly upon mussels, periwinkles, crustaceans, and 

 clams, with a little admixture of algae, or other vegetable matter. Mus- 

 sels and clams are devoured shells and all, up to a diameter of two inches 

 or more; and the bird's digestion appears to be in no wise impaired by 

 this heroic diet. Its flesh, as a consequence, is rank, and judged unfit 

 for food, save by the equally heroic Indian. Yet to call the Scoter 

 flesh "fishy" is only to advertise our own ignorance. A straight diet of 



1832 



