North American Bird Search Box
This search box can be used to find bird species using bird's english or french name, or to identify bird by its 4 letter Alpha Code
Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Velvet Scoter
Macreuse brune
Melanitta fusca stejnegeri or deglandi
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Life, Habitat & Pictures of the Velvet Scoter
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21" 53.3cm | 34" 86.4cm | 3.7lb. 1.7kg | Anatidae | Melanitta fusca stejnegeri or deglandi |
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
The Velvet Scoter was until recently a race or sub-species of the White-winged Scoter and one of the largest members of the scoter family. It is a native waterfowl of Europe and is mostly seen in the European countries that are part of the mainlands of Europe, with some reports from Iceland. It is very similar to the White-winged Scoter and has not yet been identified in North America. The male Velvet Scoter has an all black body, including its flanks, while the male White-winged Scoter has a black body but displays brown flanks.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.