Scoter

Scoter, common name applied to three species of sea ducks, popularly but erroneously called coots in the United States, that are abundant off the colder shores of the northern hemisphere. They feed on shellfish and other marine animals, and have tough, ill-smelling flesh, making their meat inedible. Males are chiefly black; females and young are sooty brown. One species, the surf scoter, is confined to North America, breeding in Alaska and northern Canada. It is about 48 cm (about 19 in) long; males have white patches on the crown and nape, and a large bill patterned in black, orange, and white. The other two species breed in northern areas around the world. The black scoter is about 46 cm (about 18.5 in) long; males are completely black except for an orange knob at the base of the bill. The white-winged scoter, known as the velvet scoter in Eurasia, is the largest of the genus at 53 cm (21 in). Males have an orange bill with a black knob at the base, and a small white patch below the eye. Both sexes have a white patch on the trailing edge of the wing, inconspicuous while the birds are on the water but obvious when they are flying.

Scientific classification: Scoters make up the genus Melanitta of the family Anatidae, order Anseriformes. The surf scoter is classified as Melanitta perspicillata, the black scoter as Melanitta nigra, and the white-winged scoter as Melanitta fusca.