Kingdom Animalia Subfamily Merginae Higher classification Anatinae Rank Genus | Family Anatidae Scientific name Melanitta Phylum Chordata Order Anseriformes | |
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Lower classifications Velvet scoter, Common scoter, Surf scoter, White‑winged scoter, Black scoter | ||
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus Melanitta. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills. Females are brown. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek melas "black" and netta "duck".
They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia, and North America, and winter farther south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal waters. These are tightly packed, and the birds tend to take off together.
Their lined nests are built on the ground close to the sea, lakes or rivers, in woodland or tundra. These species dive for crustaceans and molluscs.
Species
There are five species, grouped into two subgenera:
The presumed fossil "scoter" Melanitta ceruttii, which lived in California during the Late Pliocene, is now placed in the genus Histrionicus.
