Stejneger's Scoter vs Velvet Scoter

Stejneger's Scoter

Melanitta stejnegeri

Huge1.8 kgWetland

There are a number of differing characteristics of Stejneger's scoter and the white-winged scoter. Males of the white-winged scoter have browner flanks, dark yellow coloration of most of the bill and a less tall bill knob, approaching the velvet scoter. The male Stejneger's scoter has a very tall knob at the base of its mostly orange-yellow bill.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Kim, Hyun-tae · CC BY 4.0

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca

Huge1.8 kgWetland

The velvet scoter is 51–56 cm (20–22 in) in length and has a wingspan of 90–99 cm (35–39 in). It is a relatively large sea duck with a thick neck, a long broad bill and a pointed tail. The plumage of the male is glossy black with large white wing patches and small white patches behind the eye. The bill is partly orange. The female is similar to the male but lacks the gloss on the feathers and is duller and browner.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Maria Kohanovskaya · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Stejneger's Scoter and Velvet Scoter.