Birdsong field guide
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
A medium-sized sea duck known for the male's entirely black plumage and a distinctive bulbous yellow-orange knob at the base of its bill. It is notably the most vocal of the three scoter species found in North America.
What it sounds like
A haunting, constant, melodic whistle often rendered as 'cour-loo' or 'whe-oo-hoo'.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
0:00 / 1:09
Field notes
- The adult male is the only North American duck with completely black plumage and no white markings.
- They are often observed in massive, synchronized 'rafts' on the ocean, numbering in the thousands during migration.
- Their diet primarily consists of mollusks, particularly blue mussels, which they swallow whole and crush in their powerful gizzards.
- Unlike other scoters, the Black Scoter performs a 'head-flick' and 'tail-snap' display during its complex courtship rituals.
- Females exhibit high site fidelity, often returning to the same subarctic nesting grounds year after year.
Habitat
Shallow coastal waters and bays in winter; freshwater tundra pools and bogs during the breeding season.
Range
Breeds in Alaska and Northern Canada; winters along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts down to California and South Carolina.
Similar & commonly confused birds
Heard a Black Scoter?
Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.
Identify a bird by its song