
HOODED MERGANSER (continued) . 
5. Greater Coverts: 
(a) Much frayed at tips, faded brownish 
particularly over tertials ------------------------ Immature 
(b) Tips smooth, smooth shiny black over 
tertials ------9--- n-ne meee ne nn re ene nee enne Adult Female 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS 
Adult males can be readily identified by the extreme dark color 
of all feathers (except the secondaries and upper half of greater 
coverts) on the upper surface of the wing and the absence of faded 
fraying on tertials and tertial coverts. 
Adult females are similar except that these feathers are very dark 
brown rather than black, it is often necessary to tilt the wings and 
to view them very closely to see that these wings are not black. 
Immatures of both sexes are usually lighter brown than adult females, 
but do intergrade to an unknown extent. On immatures, the tertials and 
tertial coverts usually show light, faded fraying at the tips. This 
light colored fraying often is Present also among the scapulars. The 
greater coverts often show much less white on their tips than adults 
and frequently are entirely brown. 
KEY TO WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS 
1. Middle and Lesser Coverts: 
(a) Shiny black --------------- nn nen err nn ernest Adult Male 
(b) Brownish to brownish black -----------"9------------ a eZ 
2. Tertials, Tertial Coverts and Scapulars: 
(a) Tips have pale fraying; tertials often 
no longer than white secondaries ------------------ Immature 
(b) Tips not frayed; tertials slightly 
longer than white secondaries -------------7erre---- 3 
42 
