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Oidemia
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus ''Melanitta''. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills, the females are brown. They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia, and North America, and winter farther south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal waters. These are tightly packed, and the birds tend to take off together. Their lined nests are built on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. These species dive for crustaceans and molluscs. Taxonomy The genus ''Melanitta'' was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1822. The type species was designated in 1838 as the velvet scoter by Thomas Campbell Eyton. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ''melas'' meaning "black" and ''netta'' meaning "duck". The genus contains six species: The presumed fossil "scoter" ''Melanitta ceruttii'', which lived in California during the Late Pliocene, is now placed in the genus ''Histrionicu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Americana
The black scoter or American scoter (''Melanitta americana'') is a large sea duck, in length. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". The species name is from the Latin for "American ". Together with the common scoter ''M. nigra'', it forms the subgenus ''Oidemia''; the two are sometimes considered conspecific, the black scoter then being referred to as ''M. nigra americana''. Its French name, used in parts of its Canadian range, is ''macreuse noire'' (also meaning "black scoter"). The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Description This large sea duck is characterised by its bulky shape and large bill. The adult male is all black with a very bulbous bill which is mostly yellow. The female is a brown bird with pale cheeks, very similar to female common scoter. The adult female averages about and in length, while the adult male is on average and in length. This species can be distinguished from other scoters, apart ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-winged Scoter
The white-winged scoter (''Melanitta deglandi'') is a large sea duck. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". The species name commemorates French ornithologist Côme Damien Degland. Description The white-winged scoter is one of three North American scoter species and the largest species of scoter. Females range from and , averaging and . The male ranges from and from , averaging and . The white-winged scoter has a wingspan of 31.5 in (80 cm). This species is characterized by its bulky shape and large bill, which is feathered at the gape unlike the blocky bill base of the surf scoter. The white secondary flight feathers by which the species is named is visible in flight, but may be concealed when swimming. The male is all black, except for white around the eye and a white speculum. The bill is orange and red with a large black knob at the base. It takes 3 years for definitive (adult) plumage to be attained - second-year ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Perspicillata
The surf scoter (''Melanitta perspicillata'') is a large sea duck native to North America. Adult males are almost entirely black with characteristic white patches on the forehead and the nape and adult females are slightly smaller and browner. Surf scoters breed in Northern Canada and Alaska and winter along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America. Those diving ducks mainly feed on benthic invertebrates, mussels representing an important part of their diet. Taxonomy In 1750 the English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and a description of the surf scoter in the third volume of his ''A Natural History of Uncommon Birds''. He used the English name "The great black duck from Hudson's Bay". Edwards based his hand-coloured etching on a preserved specimen that had been brought to London from the Hudson Bay area of Canada by James Isham. When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his '' Systema Naturae'' for the tenth edition, he placed th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Stejnegeri
Stejneger's scoter (''Melanitta stejnegeri''), also known as the Siberian scoter, is a large sea duck. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". Taxonomy Stejneger's scoter was described by the American ornithologist Robert Ridgway in 1887 and given the binomial name ''Oidemia stejnegeri''. The specific name was chosen to honour the Norwegian born ornithologist Leonhard Stejneger. It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the white-winged scoter. It was suggested to be a full species, according to a new study. Description There are a number of differing characteristics of Stejneger's scoter and the white-winged scoter. Males of the white-winged scoter have browner flanks, dark yellow coloration of most of the bill and a less tall bill knob, approaching the velvet scoter. Stejneger's scoter has a very tall knob at the base of its mostly orange-yellow bill. Females are identical in the field. Distribution Stejneger's scoter br ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Deglandi
The white-winged scoter (''Melanitta deglandi'') is a large sea duck. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". The species name commemorates French ornithologist Côme Damien Degland. Description The white-winged scoter is one of three North American scoter species and the largest species of scoter. Females range from and , averaging and . The male ranges from and from , averaging and . The white-winged scoter has a wingspan of 31.5 in (80 cm). This species is characterized by its bulky shape and large bill, which is feathered at the gape unlike the blocky bill base of the surf scoter. The white secondary flight feathers by which the species is named is visible in flight, but may be concealed when swimming. The male is all black, except for white around the eye and a white speculum. The bill is orange and red with a large black knob at the base. It takes 3 years for definitive (adult) plumage to be attained - second-year m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
White-winged Scoter
The white-winged scoter (''Melanitta deglandi'') is a large sea duck. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". The species name commemorates French ornithologist Côme Damien Degland. Description The white-winged scoter is one of three North American scoter species and the largest species of scoter. Females range from and , averaging and . The male ranges from and from , averaging and . The white-winged scoter has a wingspan of 31.5 in (80 cm). This species is characterized by its bulky shape and large bill, which is feathered at the gape unlike the blocky bill base of the surf scoter. The white secondary flight feathers by which the species is named is visible in flight, but may be concealed when swimming. The male is all black, except for white around the eye and a white speculum. The bill is orange and red with a large black knob at the base. It takes 3 years for definitive (adult) plumage to be attained - second-year ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Fusca
The velvet scoter (''Melanitta fusca''), also called a velvet duck,Buczacki, Stefan (2005) ''Fauna Britannica'', Hamlyn, London. is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic west of the Yenisey basin. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". The species name is from the Latin ''fuscus'' "dusky brown". A small, isolated population nests in eastern Turkey. Stejneger's scoter and the white-winged scoter are sometimes considered conspecific with the velvet scoter, and its two constituent subspecies are then known as ''M. f. stejnegeri'' and ''M. f. deglandi''. Velvet, Stejneger's, and white-winged scoter, along with the surf scoter, are placed in the subgenus ''Melanitta'', distinct from the subgenus ''Oidemia'', black scoter and common scoters. It winters farther south in temperate zones, Europe as far south as Great Britain, and on the Black and Caspian Sea. Small numbers reach France and northern Sp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Fusca, Grindavik, Iceland 1
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus ''Melanitta''. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills, the females are brown. They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia, and North America, and winter farther south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal waters. These are tightly packed, and the birds tend to take off together. Their lined nests are built on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. These species dive for crustaceans and molluscs. Taxonomy The genus ''Melanitta'' was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1822. The type species was designated in 1838 as the velvet scoter by Thomas Campbell Eyton. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ''melas'' meaning "black" and ''netta'' meaning "duck". The genus contains six species: The presumed fossil "scoter" ''Melanitta ceruttii'', which lived in California during the Late Pliocene, is now placed in the genus ''Histrionicu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Nigra
The common scoter (''Melanitta nigra'') is a large sea duck, in length, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic east to the Olenyok River. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'', "black", and ''netta'', "duck". The species name is from Latin ''niger'' "shining black". The black scoter (''M. americana'') of North America and eastern Siberia is sometimes considered a subspecies of ''M. nigra''. Description It is characterised by its bulky shape and large bill. The male is all black with a bulbous bill which shows some yellow coloration around the nostrils. The female is a brown bird with pale cheeks, very similar to female black scoter. This species can be distinguished from other scoters, apart from black scoter, by the lack of white anywhere on the drake and the more extensive pale areas on the female. Vocalisations Black scoter and common scoter have diagnosably distinct vocalisations. Ecology It winters farther south in temperate zones ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melanitta Americana Barnegat NJ
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus ''Melanitta''. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills, the females are brown. They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia, and North America, and winter farther south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal waters. These are tightly packed, and the birds tend to take off together. Their lined nests are built on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. These species dive for crustaceans and molluscs. Taxonomy The genus ''Melanitta'' was introduced by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie in 1822. The type species was designated in 1838 as the velvet scoter by Thomas Campbell Eyton. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek ''melas'' meaning "black" and ''netta'' meaning "duck". The genus contains six species: The presumed fossil "scoter" ''Melanitta ceruttii'', which lived in California during the Late Pliocene, is now placed in the genus ''Histrionicu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Velvet Scoter
The velvet scoter (''Melanitta fusca''), also called a velvet duck,Buczacki, Stefan (2005) ''Fauna Britannica'', Hamlyn, London. is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic west of the Yenisey basin. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek ''melas'' "black" and ''netta'' "duck". The species name is from the Latin ''fuscus'' "dusky brown". A small, isolated population nests in eastern Turkey. Stejneger's scoter and the white-winged scoter are sometimes considered conspecific with the velvet scoter, and its two constituent subspecies are then known as ''M. f. stejnegeri'' and ''M. f. deglandi''. Velvet, Stejneger's, and white-winged scoter, along with the surf scoter, are placed in the subgenus ''Melanitta'', distinct from the subgenus ''Oidemia'', black scoter and common scoters. It winters farther south in temperate zones, Europe as far south as Great Britain, and on the Black and Caspian Sea. Small numbers reach France and northern ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bird Migration
Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement, often north and south along a flyway, between breeding and wintering grounds. Many species of bird migrate. Migration carries high costs in predation and mortality, including from hunting by humans, and is driven primarily by the availability of food. It occurs mainly in the northern hemisphere, where birds are funneled onto specific routes by natural barriers such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Caribbean Sea. Migration of species such as storks, turtle doves, and swallows was recorded as many as 3,000 years ago by Ancient Greek authors, including Homer and Aristotle, and in the Book of Job. More recently, Johannes Leche began recording dates of arrivals of spring migrants in Finland in 1749, and modern scientific studies have used techniques including bird ringing and satellite tracking to trace migrants. Threats to migratory birds have grown with habitat destruction, especially of stopover and wintering sites, a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
