Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
- Family
- Ducks, Swans, and Geese (Anatidae)
- Order
- Anseriformes
Overview
The black scoter or American scoter (Melanitta americana) is a large sea duck, 43 to 49 cm (17 to 19 in) 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.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds Yana River to Kamchatka (eastern Siberia), Alaska eastward to northwestern Yukon; eastern Northwest Territories and southwestern Nunavut to Newfoundland (central to eastern Canada); winters to central Japan (western North Pacific coast); Aleutian Islands, eastern North Pacific coast to central California; western North Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to northern Florida.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Black scoter
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
