Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
(aka White-winged Scoter)
The Velvet Scoter breeds in the taiga and tundra of northern Europe, Asia and North America. It likes to be close to both trees and water.
The velvet scoter is a black seaduck. It has a long bill, a thick neck and a pointed tail. In flight, it shows a white patch on the rear of the wing - this can also be seen when birds sitting on the sea flap their wings.
Velvet Scoter, American White-winged Scoter deglandi, Asian White-winged Scoter stejnegeri
Bird Family :
Anatini - Typical ducks ...
It may be a single species known as the Velvet Scoter thoughout most of Europe and Asia and the White-winged Scoter in North America and Siberia. Alternately, M. fusca may identify just the former, while M. deglandi names the latter.
Alternate common name(s): American White-winged Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Asiatic Scoter, Asiatic White-winged Scoter, Degland's White-winged Scoter, Hook-nosed Scoter, European White-winged Scoter ...
Doctor Come Damien Degland was a French ornithologist after whom this subspecies was named. In Europe they have the similar Velvet Scoter, M. fusca fusca, which I guess is three times darker than black.
Melanitta fusca (Velvet Scoter)
Melanitta nigra (Common Scoter)
Melanitta perspicillata (Surf Scoter)
Mergellus albellus (Smew)
Mergus merganser (Common Merganser)
Mergus serrator (Red-breasted Merganser)
Somateria mollissima (Common Eider) ...
 See also: Scoter, Common Scoter, Surf scoter, Duck, Flamingo
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