adult male; fancy bill; white on head, nape (California, USA; 2007-19-07)
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Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
Native Range:
North America
Notes:
sometimes found in mixed flocks with Black- and/or White-winged Scoters; nests on freshwater ponds and lakes across northern Canada and Alaska, winters in saltwater along both coasts; large triangular bill helps the bird harvest and crush molluscs that are a big part of its diet;
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adult female; white spots on face, nape (California, USA; 2007-02-24)
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first-winter male; brown, paler than adult (California, USA; 2007-19-07) |
first-spring female; dark eyes, cap (California, USA; 2007-03-04)
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juvenile/first-winter (California, USA; 2007-19-07) |
flying in a line (California, USA; 2006-10-14)
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mixed-sex flock (California, USA; 2006-02-26)
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flock showing social nature of species (California, USA; 2006-02-26) |
thick coat of water-repellent feathers (California, USA; 2007-19-07) |
eating a bivave; note serrated bill (California, USA; 2007-19-07) |
male posing for picture; showing red legs (California, USA; 2007-19-07) |