Birdsong field guide
Stejneger's Scoter
Melanitta stejnegeri
Stejneger's Scoter is a large, dark sea duck of East Asia, distinguished by the male's prominent bill knob and comma-shaped white eye patch.
What it sounds like
Generally silent; during courtship, males emit low-pitched, whistling 'phee-er' notes and guttural grunts.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- It was historically considered a subspecies of the Velvet Scoter until morphological and genetic evidence led to its classification as a distinct species.
- The male's bill features a high, bulbous black knob at the base with vibrant yellow-orange and red coloration toward the tip.
- It is a highly migratory species, traveling from Siberian freshwater breeding grounds to marine wintering sites in the Northwest Pacific.
- The species is a specialized diver that primarily consumes benthic invertebrates, particularly mollusks and crustaceans, from the sea floor.
- Both sexes possess white secondary wing feathers that create a striking white patch visible during flight or when flapping wings.
Habitat
Breeds near freshwater lakes in tundra and taiga; winters in coastal marine environments and protected bays.
Range
Breeds across eastern Siberia and northern Mongolia; winters along the coasts of China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.
Similar & commonly confused birds
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