Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusMelanitta (Scoters)
- SpeciesMelanitta nigra (Common Scoter)
About the Common Scoter
The common scoter (Melanitta nigra) is a large sea duck, 43–54 cm (17–21 in) in length, which breeds over the far north of Europe and the Palearctic east to the Olenyok River. The black scoter (M. americana) of North America and eastern Siberia was formerly considered to be a subspecies.
The common 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 nigra. Linnaeus specified the type locality as Lapland, England. The common 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 common scoter was formerly considered to be conspecific with the black scoter (Melanitta americana) but the two taxa are now treated as separate species. The common scoter is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.
The common scoter is characterised by its bulky shape and large bill. The male is all black with a bulbous bill which shows some yellow coloration around the nostrils. The female is a brown bird with... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Scoter in Vatnajokull National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Vatnajokull National Park
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelope
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Greylag Goose
Anser anser
Whooper Swan
Cygnus cygnus
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Harlequin Duck
Histrionicus histrionicus
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 2 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 3 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 4 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 5 | Białowieża National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 6 | Biebrza National Park | 🇵🇱 Poland | |
| 7 | Gauja National Park | 🇱🇻 Latvia | |
| 8 | Camargue | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 9 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Scoter in Vatnajokull National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Scoter sighting in Vatnajokull National Park, based on 689 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Scoter in Vatnajokull National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Common Scoter in Vatnajokull National Park in our monthly data.