Black Scoter

Melanitta americana (Swainson, 1832) DX BLASC 2132
Family: Anseriformes > Anatidae

The American equivalent of the Common Scoter, which it closely resembles. Taxonomists have only recently recognized this species, which is a very rare visitor to Britain.

Individuals occasionally do a "wing-flap" display while swimming, flapping their wings with the body held up and punctuating this with a downward thrust of head, as if its neck were momentarily broken.

Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Black Scoter

• Breeding
• Winter

SEASONALITY

1k records

BTO RECORDS

SEASONALITY

1k records

BTO RECORDS

Identification

Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Near Threatened
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No

POPULATION SIZE

We have no population estimates for this scarce species.

BOU Category	A
First Record	Lothian, 1987

DISTRIBUTION

This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Black Scoter, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.

BIOMETRICS

Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

Field Codes

2-letter: DX | 5-letter code: BLASC | Euring: 2132

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Welsh: Môr-hwyaden America

Catalan: ànec negre americà

Danish: Amerikansk Sortand

Dutch: Amerikaanse Zee-eend

Estonian: ida-mustvaeras

French: Macreuse à bec jaune

German: Pazifiktrauerente

Hungarian: nyerges réce

Italian: Orchetto marino americano

Latvian: Amerikas melna pile

Lithuanian: amerikine juodoji antis

Norwegian: Amerikasvartand

Polish: markaczka amerykanska

Slovak: turpan americký

Spanish: Negrón americano

Swedish: amerikansk sjöorre