HUNTING HORIZONS - Worldwide Hunting Seasons Database

The Velvet Scoter [Melanitta fusca], also called a Velvet Duck or Whitewing is a large sea duck, which breeds over the far north of Europe and Asia west of the Yenisey basin. A small population nests in eastern Turkey. It winters in the Baltic and further south in temperate zones as far south as Great Britain, the Black and Caspian Seas. Small numbers reach France and northern Spain.
LENGTH: 51-58 cm WEIGHT: 1.36-1.78 kg WINGSPAN: 100-130 cm
It is characterised by its bulky shape and large bill.
MALE: All black with a white speculum; it has a bulbous yellow / orange bill with a black knob at the base with a white “tear drop” behind the eye.
FEMALE: Dull brown birds with two pale patches on dark heads behind bill and eye, white wing patches.
JUVENILE: Both sexes are dark brownish with paler bellies with a dark bill and variable amounts of white on their head that can appear as spots.
HABITAT: Breeds by lakes in Scandinavian tree-zone; winters mainly in large flocks on the ocean, bays and estuaries, but a few remain on lakes in the interior.
FEEDING: These birds feed on molluscs, crabs, shrimp, starfish, sea urchins, and some fish. On freshwater breeding sites, the bird feeds primarily on insect larvae and amphipods.
CALL: Soft whistles and guttural croaks, often silent.
FLIGHT: Flocks usually fly low over the sea in long, wavering lines; in migration flocks may fly much higher. When taking off tightly packed from water, white-winged scoters run across the surface for a short distance to become airborne; once airborne, their flight is swift and direct.