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| SEA DUCKS |
| Scoters There are three kinds of Scoters seen on LI. Scoters are often seen flying in thin line formations low over water. White Winged Scoter - Heavy black duck - White wing patch seen in flight, often concealed when swimming - Male has white "teardrop" below eye - Bill orange with black knob at base - Female sooty with two white patches on each side of face. Black Scoter - Entirely black plumage - Bright orange/yellow knob on bill (nicknamed "butternose") - In flight underwing shows two-toned effect - Female sooty in color, light cheeks contrast with dark head Surf Scoter - All black plumage, except for two white spots on head (nicknamed "Skunkhead") - Bill patterned with orange, black & white - Female light brown with two pale white patches on face |
| Long Tailed Duck - Formerly called "Oldsquaw" - Only Sea Duck to combine a lot of white on the body with unpatterned dark wings. Striking black & white plumage. - Male is actually less striking in color when in breeding color; dark head, dark chest & back, white sides with white cheek patch. In non-breeding color almost all white with black cheek patch. - Needle-like, long tail gives duck it's name. - Pinkish bill color - Female lacks pink bill and has less white in winter colors. |
| Eiders There are two types of Eiders seen on LI. Common Eider - Large Sea Duck, bulky & thick-necked - Only duck in our area with black belly and white back - Head white with black crown, greenish nape - Long flat head profile, yellow bill color extending to base of eye - Female rich brown or gray/brown, closely barred with same head profile King Eider - Stocky, smaller than Common Eider - On water foreparts appear white, rear parts appear black - Large white wing patch - Orange bill and large orange bill shield, appearing to be knob-like on forehead. - Thin white line running thru eye and down side of head - Female golden brown in color, gray bill, no bill shield. |
| Harlequin Duck - Strikingly patterned, bold colors - Male slaty gray in color with chestnut sides, white facial crescent, patches & spots - White ring around neck and white wing stripe - In flight appears uniformly dark - Female dusky brown with three round white spots on each side of head, no wing patch. |
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| Black Scoter photo copyright Harold Lindstrom |
| White-winged Scoter photo copyright Chuck Gordon |
| Surf Scoter photo copyright Bates Littlehales |
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| Harlequin Duck photo copyright Tom Vezo |
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| King Eider photo copyright Betty Randall |
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| Long-tailed Duck Photo by James Galletto |
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| Common Eider Photo by James Galletto |
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| Photo by Bob Levine |
| Sea Ducks: Basic Characteristics - Sits low in water, with tail in water - Dives to 200' or more - Opens wings under water - Feet at back of body, has difficulty walking on land - Hind toe has paddle-like flap - Run "on water" to take flight |
| For more information on ducks, go to ENature.com |