Bird of the Week – Black Scoter
We’ll start the New Year with a new duck. Most Alaskans are unaware of the clade of scoters, genus Melanitta. That’s okay, science doesn’t know very much about them either. The Black Scoter is one of the three scoter species that breed in Alaska.
Black Scoter, Denali National Park
The Black Scoter drake in breeding plumage is easy to identify: it’s the only black duck with two-thirds of the top if its bill – technically, its culmen – bright yellow and the rest black. Black Scoters breed in coastal zones and less commonly up the Yukon and Tanana drainages. WC has found nesting birds on Chena Hot Springs Road, in ponds in Denali National Park and near Safety on the Seward Peninsula. They winter along the Alaska coast and as far south as southern California.
This species is among the most vocal of all waterfowl. Rafts of this scoter can often be located by the constant mellow, plaintive whistling sound of the males.
Camera geek stuff: f6.3, 1/400, ISO200.
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
Mike from Iowa –
The reddish reflections are from the shrubbery around the little pond. The vegetation hadn’t leafed out yet along the westerly end of the Denali Highway.
/WC
Thanks,WC. The blue of the pond water is breathtaking. Looking forward to more of your stunning photography..
Duck looks like it has a retread bill. What is all the reddish looking stuff on the water?
That is a lovely duck.
It’s funny, but when I was a kid I was particularly fascinated by the black swans at NZP. I think it had something to do with their red bills and the fact that they were a bit vocal.
Wow! I didn’t know they had invented a new duck! This is big news!
What a beautiful photo! Thanks, WC.