Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusMelanitta (Scoters)
- SpeciesMelanitta fusca (Velvet Scoter)
About the Velvet Scoter
The velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic west of the Yenisey basin. The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek melas "black" and netta "duck". The species name is from the Latin fuscus "dusky brown".
The velvet scoter was formally described in 1758 by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Anas fusca. Linnaeus specified the type locality as European seas but restricted this to the Swedish coast in 1761. The velvet scoter is now one of six species placed in the genus Melanitta that was introduced in 1822 by the German zoologist Friedrich Boie. The genus name combines the Ancient Greek melas meaning "black" and netta meaning "duck". The specific epithet fusca is from Latin fuscus meaning "dusky", "black" or "brown". The species is considered to be monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
The velvet scooter was formerly considered to be conspecific with the white-winged scoter (Melanitta deglandi) of North America and Stejneger's scoter (Melanitta stejnegeri) of eastern Siberia and northwest Mongolia. The velvet... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Velvet Scoter in Camargue
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Camargue
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadorna
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Marbled Teal
Marmaronetta angustirostris
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 2 | Camargue | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Triglav National Park | 🇸🇮 Slovenia | |
| 6 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 7 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 8 | Fertő-Hanság National Park | 🇭🇺 Hungary | |
| 9 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 10 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Velvet Scoter in Camargue?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Velvet Scoter sighting in Camargue, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Velvet Scoter in Camargue?
January has the highest sighting rate for Velvet Scoter in Camargue in our monthly data.