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A photo of a Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra), male
Common Scoter, Male

Common Scoter

Melanitta nigra

The common scoter (Melanitta nigra) is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic east to the Olenyok River. The black scoter (M. americana) of North America and eastern Siberia is sometimes considered a subspecies of M. nigra. 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.
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Common Scoters on Birda

Photos

Sightings

A map showing the sighting location
🦅
Chris Tilly
Thursday 21 Sep 2023 - 10:02am
United Kingdom
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Freda Stonehouse
Freda Stonehouse
Saturday 16 Sep 2023 - 8:23am
United Kingdom
A photo of a Common Scoter photographed in  United Kingdom
🐝
Elizabeth Ogilvie
Friday 15 Sep 2023 - 4:46pm
United Kingdom
A map showing the sighting location
Profile picture for Oli Cottis
Oli Cottis
Wednesday 13 Sep 2023 - 3:05pm
United Kingdom
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