hen; note the plain pale face and upper neck (California, USA; 2015-05-25)


Black Scoter
Melanitta nigra

Native Range: Eurasia, North America

Notes: a drab sea duck with different recognized subspecies in western North America versus eastern Eurasia; the all-black drake has a yellow knob on the bill, which the female lacks; often found near or in the surf zone along rocky shorelines, often with other scoter species.

hen lacks the white face spots of Surf Scoter (California, USA; 2015-05-25)
swimming left (California, USA; 2015-05-25)

dipping bill in water (California, USA; 2015-05-25)
with Surf Scoter hen following behind (California, USA; 2015-05-25)

with Surf Scoter hen for comparison (California, USA; 2015-05-25)
swimming right (California, USA; 2015-05-25)

flapping wings (California, USA; 2015-05-25)
swimming toward the camera (California, USA; 2015-05-25)