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Velvet, White-winged and Stejneger’s PHOTO GUIDE 1 Birdwatch Reproduced from the February 2014 issue (260: 45-52) (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) VARESVUO MARKUS 1 Male (front) and female (back) Velvet (Utö, Finland, 21 May 2010). A beautiful close-up of a pair of Velvet Scoters. A view like this would be exceptional in Britain or Ireland, as here Velvet Scoters prefer to remain a little more distant offshore than they do in northern , where they breed. Note the extensive clean yellow colour on the bill of the male and the characteristic slightly concave forehead and bill profile, with just a slight swelling above the nostrils. A sliver of the diagnostic white wing-patch is visible on the female but in the male it is concealed by the overlaying rear flank feathers. The male’s white eye-patch does not extend very far behind the eye.

PROFILE There was a time when any scoter with a white wing-bar was simply a ‘Velvet’. Not any more, as what was once regarded as a single Holarctic has been divided in two: North American have been split as White-winged Scoter, with an equally distinctive Asian subspecies, Stejneger’s Scoter, which itself may

MARTIN GARNER be separated at species level. Both White-winged and Stejneger’s is a world-renowned ornithologist and Scoters have now been found among scoter flocks in British and ID expert who has written numerous Irish waters, highlighting the rewards for the vigilant observer. books and papers. Main text by Martin Garner. ❯

www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 45

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BASIC PRINCIPLES 2 5

ook at the shape on winged Scoter there, it was that. It’s nothing There are three essential ID assumed to be the North “Llike the same!” ❝ American form. However, the I was talking to Anthony elements: skull and bill structure, characteristic head shape and McGeehan and David Quinn little yellow lick on the bill side and responding to views plumage in adult males and bill even on small images showed of a female White-winged it to be the Asian vagrant. Scoter o Vancouver Island, colour in males of all ages Since then, these Canada. It was (perhaps to ❞ characters have been written some) a boring brown di erent in fact – and one Stejneger’s Scoter), they can up, tested and superbly surrounded by Pacifi c Rim of these days are going to be be di cult to see, and the illustrated, fi rst by Ian wonders such as Ancient a orded full specifi c status, head structure and bill colour Lewington and subsequently

Murrelet, , just as they deserve. of males is usually enough by Killian Mullarney in the MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) DAVISON TONY Rhinoceros Auklet and for a clear identifi cation. second edition of the Collins 2 Male (UtÃ, Finland, 25 May 2010). The bright pink 5 Male Velvet Scoter (Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire, 15 Pacifi c Diver. Structure, plumage Often visible at long Bird Guide. This has led to legs are a feature of adult males in all three forms of Velvet/White- December 2013). The colour on the bill can appear more orange- It was late November 1997 and bill colour range, the males’ bill colours the discovery of the two rare winged Scoter, but the extensive yellow colour on the bill is seen only yellow at times, with a tinge of pink on the broad nail. Importantly, and I had spent some time There are three essential can lead to a very quick species in Europe. in European birds. only in Velvet does the colour extend well to the rear of the nostrils. carefully watching a female- elements to the identifi cation identifi cation. Male Velvet In the last few years, type Velvet Scoter in Belfast of these three forms. Scoters have a long strip Stejneger’s Scoter arrived 3 6 Lough just the week before. Structure of the skull and of orange-yellow scooping in two consecutive years in Noting all its characteristics bill, body plumage in adult under the nostrils. American Arctic Norway in brown and behaviours, I was males and bill colour in White-winged has a more female-type plumage (a watching it as if I were seeing immature and adult males. restricted pinkish-red young male). An adult male the species for the fi rst time. The head and bill structure patch with a dab of yellow Stejneger’s was found o I like the way small children of each is distinctive in all just underneath a more south-west Ireland and learn their colours: one at a ages and sexes. prominent nostril. The very Britain’s fi rst American time. The fi rst colour might A good starting point is knobbly billed adult male White-winged Scoter, a fi rst- be blue. They will point to to become familiar with Stejneger’s has pinky-red summer male, was picked out everything that is blue after the structure and shape similar to its American in north-east . The that. If a parent then points to of, for example, the next counterpart, but most discovery and identifi cation of something red and asked what Velvet Scoter you encounter. importantly, a diagnostic the rarer species in immature colour it is. The child will There are subtle di erences yellow lick running along the plumages in the Western reply: “It’s not blue.” in head and bill shapes of edge of the upper mandible. Palearctic fully demonstrates

The female Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoters in females, The white tick mark with the distinctive structure and MIKE DANZENBAKER (WWW.AGAMI.NL) MIKE DANZENBAKER (WWW.AGAMI.NL) in Belfast Lough was my young brown males and a ‘tail’ behind the eye is plumage of all three forms. 3 Male American White-winged Scoter (Washington, USA, 12 6 Male American White-winged Scoter (California, USA, 9 February ‘blue’. On seeing the female more obviously adult male almost always present on So we now know that February 2006). The predominant colour on the bill is raspberry-pink, 2008). The prominent bump above the nostril creates a very different White-winged Scoter, plumages. Once fully American White-winged and all three birds can occur shading to yellowish just below the nostril. This diagnostic feature can profile from Velvet Scoter. Note the long, upswept white eye-patch and often be determined at long range, sometimes even in flying birds. that the rearmost extent of colour on the bill is directly below the nostril. considered to be the same appreciated, the structures of Stejneger’s, versus the more in British and Irish waters, species, my response was the other two species become restricted small white scoop and the regular checking of 4 7 straightforward: It’s not more apparent. under the eye on male Velvet. scoter fl ocks provides the ‘blue’! This simple, even These di erences can The usefulness of these best opportunities for fi nding child-like way of birding has be simply characterised as characters was born out them. While winter is a served me pretty well for 40 follows: when I was exploring the traditional time to focus on years. • Velvet Scoter has a subject in the dial-up days seaduck, May and June have So began an exploration squarish head but with a of the internet some 10 had the most occurrences, into all ages and sexes of concave scooped bill shape. years ago. I made a couple found in traditional summer the three scoters with white • American White-winged of ‘keyboard warrior’ moult fl ocks of Common feathering on the inner wing. Scoter has a three-tiered/ discoveries. North America’s Scoter. In the meantime, Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca two-stepped profi le for the fi rst Stejneger’s Scoter practise the shapes and of Northern Europe and bill and head. (Cape Nome, Alaska, May colours on any of the scoters- Asia, ‘American’ White- • Stejneger’s Scoter has 2001) was sitting on Brad with-white-wings that you see. winged Scoter M deglandi a fl at-topped head with Bergstrom’s website and Then keep checking. Look for of North America and a long ‘Roman nose’ the second photographed the one that’s not blue! ■ Stejneger’s Scoter M (deglandi) recalling a Common Eider. Stejneger’s Scoter for the stejnegeri of East Asia. When Plumage di erences are Western Palearctic was on an Editor’s I fi rst started exploring the subtle, and while they have Icelandic website. acknowledgements SERGEY YELISEEV MOORES NIAL 4 Male Stejneger’s Scoter (Chuya Steppe, Republic of Altai, Russia, 7 Male Stejneger’s Scoter (Baekryeong, South Korea, 24 November Special thanks to Killian subject, all three were viewed been emphasised in the past The latter bird was present 6 May 2011). Bill colour detail that is difficult to register on a bird in 2013). Similar to American White-winged, Stejneger’s has an even as forms of the same species. (brown fl anks on American in Iceland in April and May Mullarney and Ian Lewington flight can often be captured in photographs. Note the ‘long-faced’ more Common Eider-like profile – with little or no indent between However, they are identifi able White-winged males 2003. With several previous for assistance in various ways look created by the combination of very prominent knobbly bill and forehead and bill – and a diagnostic stripe of yellow on the lower edge at all ages – distinctly and black fl anks on male records of American White- at short notice. the streak of white extending well behind the eye. of the bill. ❯

46 Birdwatch•February 2014 www.birdwatch.co.uk www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 47

1402 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 46 10/01/2014 15:48 1402 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 47 10/01/2014 15:48 APO-Televid spotting scopes Ultravid HD binoculars IDENTIFICATIONIDENTIFICATION In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk

BASIC PRINCIPLES 2 5 ook at the shape on winged Scoter there, it was that. It’s nothing There are three essential ID assumed to be the North “Llike the same!” ❝ American form. However, the I was talking to Anthony elements: skull and bill structure, characteristic head shape and McGeehan and David Quinn little yellow lick on the bill side and responding to views plumage in adult males and bill even on small images showed of a female White-winged it to be the Asian vagrant. Scoter o Vancouver Island, colour in males of all ages Since then, these Canada. It was (perhaps to ❞ characters have been written some) a boring brown duck di erent in fact – and one Stejneger’s Scoter), they can up, tested and superbly surrounded by Pacifi c Rim of these days are going to be be di cult to see, and the illustrated, fi rst by Ian wonders such as Ancient a orded full specifi c status, head structure and bill colour Lewington and subsequently

Murrelet, Harlequin Duck, just as they deserve. of males is usually enough by Killian Mullarney in the MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) DAVISON TONY Rhinoceros Auklet and for a clear identifi cation. second edition of the Collins 2 Male Velvet Scoter (UtÃ, Finland, 25 May 2010). The bright pink 5 Male Velvet Scoter (Eyebrook Reservoir, Leicestershire, 15 Pacifi c Diver. Structure, plumage Often visible at long Bird Guide. This has led to legs are a feature of adult males in all three forms of Velvet/White- December 2013). The colour on the bill can appear more orange- It was late November 1997 and bill colour range, the males’ bill colours the discovery of the two rare winged Scoter, but the extensive yellow colour on the bill is seen only yellow at times, with a tinge of pink on the broad nail. Importantly, and I had spent some time There are three essential can lead to a very quick species in Europe. in European birds. only in Velvet does the colour extend well to the rear of the nostrils. carefully watching a female- elements to the identifi cation identifi cation. Male Velvet In the last few years, type Velvet Scoter in Belfast of these three forms. Scoters have a long strip Stejneger’s Scoter arrived 3 6 Lough just the week before. Structure of the skull and of orange-yellow scooping in two consecutive years in Noting all its characteristics bill, body plumage in adult under the nostrils. American Arctic Norway in brown and behaviours, I was males and bill colour in White-winged has a more female-type plumage (a watching it as if I were seeing immature and adult males. restricted pinkish-red young male). An adult male the species for the fi rst time. The head and bill structure patch with a dab of yellow Stejneger’s was found o I like the way small children of each is distinctive in all just underneath a more south-west Ireland and learn their colours: one at a ages and sexes. prominent nostril. The very Britain’s fi rst American time. The fi rst colour might A good starting point is knobbly billed adult male White-winged Scoter, a fi rst- be blue. They will point to to become familiar with Stejneger’s has pinky-red summer male, was picked out everything that is blue after the structure and shape similar to its American in north-east Scotland. The that. If a parent then points to of, for example, the next counterpart, but most discovery and identifi cation of something red and asked what Velvet Scoter you encounter. importantly, a diagnostic the rarer species in immature colour it is. The child will There are subtle di erences yellow lick running along the plumages in the Western reply: “It’s not blue.” in head and bill shapes of edge of the upper mandible. Palearctic fully demonstrates

The female Velvet Scoter Velvet Scoters in females, The white tick mark with the distinctive structure and MIKE DANZENBAKER (WWW.AGAMI.NL) MIKE DANZENBAKER (WWW.AGAMI.NL) in Belfast Lough was my young brown males and a ‘tail’ behind the eye is plumage of all three forms. 3 Male American White-winged Scoter (Washington, USA, 12 6 Male American White-winged Scoter (California, USA, 9 February ‘blue’. On seeing the female more obviously adult male almost always present on So we now know that February 2006). The predominant colour on the bill is raspberry-pink, 2008). The prominent bump above the nostril creates a very different White-winged Scoter, plumages. Once fully American White-winged and all three birds can occur shading to yellowish just below the nostril. This diagnostic feature can profile from Velvet Scoter. Note the long, upswept white eye-patch and often be determined at long range, sometimes even in flying birds. that the rearmost extent of colour on the bill is directly below the nostril. considered to be the same appreciated, the structures of Stejneger’s, versus the more in British and Irish waters, species, my response was the other two species become restricted small white scoop and the regular checking of 4 7 straightforward: It’s not more apparent. under the eye on male Velvet. scoter fl ocks provides the ‘blue’! This simple, even These di erences can The usefulness of these best opportunities for fi nding child-like way of birding has be simply characterised as characters was born out them. While winter is a served me pretty well for 40 follows: when I was exploring the traditional time to focus on years. • Velvet Scoter has a subject in the dial-up days seaduck, May and June have So began an exploration squarish head but with a of the internet some 10 had the most occurrences, into all ages and sexes of concave scooped bill shape. years ago. I made a couple found in traditional summer the three scoters with white • American White-winged of ‘keyboard warrior’ moult fl ocks of Common feathering on the inner wing. Scoter has a three-tiered/ discoveries. North America’s Scoter. In the meantime, Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca two-stepped profi le for the fi rst Stejneger’s Scoter practise the shapes and of Northern Europe and bill and head. (Cape Nome, Alaska, May colours on any of the scoters- Asia, ‘American’ White- • Stejneger’s Scoter has 2001) was sitting on Brad with-white-wings that you see. winged Scoter M deglandi a fl at-topped head with Bergstrom’s website and Then keep checking. Look for of North America and a long ‘Roman nose’ the second photographed the one that’s not blue! ■ Stejneger’s Scoter M (deglandi) recalling a Common Eider. Stejneger’s Scoter for the stejnegeri of East Asia. When Plumage di erences are Western Palearctic was on an Editor’s I fi rst started exploring the subtle, and while they have Icelandic website. acknowledgements SERGEY YELISEEV MOORES NIAL 4 Male Stejneger’s Scoter (Chuya Steppe, Republic of Altai, Russia, 7 Male Stejneger’s Scoter (Baekryeong, South Korea, 24 November Special thanks to Killian subject, all three were viewed been emphasised in the past The latter bird was present 6 May 2011). Bill colour detail that is difficult to register on a bird in 2013). Similar to American White-winged, Stejneger’s has an even as forms of the same species. (brown fl anks on American in Iceland in April and May Mullarney and Ian Lewington flight can often be captured in photographs. Note the ‘long-faced’ more Common Eider-like profile – with little or no indent between However, they are identifi able White-winged males 2003. With several previous for assistance in various ways look created by the combination of very prominent knobbly bill and forehead and bill – and a diagnostic stripe of yellow on the lower edge at all ages – distinctly and black fl anks on male records of American White- at short notice. the streak of white extending well behind the eye. of the bill. ❯

46 Birdwatch•February 2014 www.birdwatch.co.uk www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 47

1402 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 46 10/01/2014 15:48 1402 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 47 10/01/2014 15:48 Ultravid compact binoculars Trinovid 42 binoculars IDENTIFICATION In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk

8 8 Female Velvet Scoter (UtÃ, 11 Second-calendar-year male 11 Finland, 25 May 2010). The Velvet Scoter (Utö, Finland, 25 conspicuous white wing-panel is May 2010). In , the similar in all three species and is juvenile feathers below the made up of broad white tips to ‘waterline’ are often among the the greater coverts as well as last to be moulted and over time the entire length of the become much faded, sometimes secondary feathers. You may even whitish in first-summer need to look at this perfect shot scoters. This bird has not yet with half-closed eyes to get the acquired the slightly swollen bill- impression of Velvet Scoter’s base of an adult male, but the very subtly concave profile of the yellow bill-sides are similar to an forehead and bill, despite the adult, just a shade duller. The slightly convex swelling over the white eye-patch has yet to nostril. develop. MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI)

9 9 Juvenile (top) and probable 12 Juvenile American White- 12 adult female (bottom) American winged Scoter (Massachussets, White-winged Scoter (Ontario, USA, 8 October 2006). The Canada, 23 November 2011). diffuse pale belly on the middle Not the ideal view for assessing bird is indicative of a juvenile, as subtle forehead and bill profiles, are the prominent, clear-cut light but other details in the photo are ear-covert spots and the subtle interesting; the finely mottled contrast between the darker cap underparts of the upper bird, and lighter hindneck in all three apparently becoming lighter birds. The curiously - towards the chest, suggest it is like head markings combined a juvenile and the narrow pale with the lack of juvenile Velvet tips to the greater coverts Scoter’s slightly concave support this. The lower bird’s forehead and bill profile should darker head and underbody and raise alarm bells on this side of broader white tips to the greater the Atlantic; let’s hope they stop! coverts indicate an adult, in which case obviously a female. JULIAN HOUGH EARL REININK

10 Male (left) and female (right) 10 13 Adult male Stejneger’s 13 Stejneger’s Scoter (Chuya Scoter (centre, Rossbeigh, Co Steppe, Republic of Altai, Kerry, 11 March 2011). Would Russia, 6 May 2011). Even in you look at the head on that! this heavily cropped image, all of This stonking adult male the key identification features of Stejneger’s Scoter was a huge Stejneger’s can be readily surprise in 2011, especially in determined – at least in the view of the fact that Ireland still male! The long, upswept white awaits its first record of Black streak behind the eye, the very Scoter, a species that has been prominent knob on the bill with recorded many times in north- forward-projecting ‘overhang’ west Europe (but interestingly, and the yellowish stripe along not yet in Iceland, either). For a the edge of the bill. If she were lot of birders who travelled to on her own, however, the female see the bird, the views were would be a real challenge on this much better than they’d ever view. managed to get of an adult male Velvet Scoter, so it made a big and lasting impression – a wonderful bird! SERGEY YELISEEV PAUL AND ANDREA KELLY (WWW.IRISHBIRDIMAGES.COM) ❯

48 Birdwatch•February 2014 www.birdwatch.co.uk www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 49

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8 8 Female Velvet Scoter (UtÃ, 11 Second-calendar-year male 11 Finland, 25 May 2010). The Velvet Scoter (Utö, Finland, 25 conspicuous white wing-panel is May 2010). In ducks, the similar in all three species and is juvenile feathers below the made up of broad white tips to ‘waterline’ are often among the the greater coverts as well as last to be moulted and over time the entire length of the become much faded, sometimes secondary feathers. You may even whitish in first-summer need to look at this perfect shot scoters. This bird has not yet with half-closed eyes to get the acquired the slightly swollen bill- impression of Velvet Scoter’s base of an adult male, but the very subtly concave profile of the yellow bill-sides are similar to an forehead and bill, despite the adult, just a shade duller. The slightly convex swelling over the white eye-patch has yet to nostril. develop. MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI)

9 9 Juvenile (top) and probable 12 Juvenile American White- 12 adult female (bottom) American winged Scoter (Massachussets, White-winged Scoter (Ontario, USA, 8 October 2006). The Canada, 23 November 2011). diffuse pale belly on the middle Not the ideal view for assessing bird is indicative of a juvenile, as subtle forehead and bill profiles, are the prominent, clear-cut light but other details in the photo are ear-covert spots and the subtle interesting; the finely mottled contrast between the darker cap underparts of the upper bird, and lighter hindneck in all three apparently becoming lighter birds. The curiously Surf Scoter- towards the chest, suggest it is like head markings combined a juvenile and the narrow pale with the lack of juvenile Velvet tips to the greater coverts Scoter’s slightly concave support this. The lower bird’s forehead and bill profile should darker head and underbody and raise alarm bells on this side of broader white tips to the greater the Atlantic; let’s hope they stop! coverts indicate an adult, in which case obviously a female. JULIAN HOUGH EARL REININK

10 Male (left) and female (right) 10 13 Adult male Stejneger’s 13 Stejneger’s Scoter (Chuya Scoter (centre, Rossbeigh, Co Steppe, Republic of Altai, Kerry, 11 March 2011). Would Russia, 6 May 2011). Even in you look at the head on that! this heavily cropped image, all of This stonking adult male the key identification features of Stejneger’s Scoter was a huge Stejneger’s can be readily surprise in 2011, especially in determined – at least in the view of the fact that Ireland still male! The long, upswept white awaits its first record of Black streak behind the eye, the very Scoter, a species that has been prominent knob on the bill with recorded many times in north- forward-projecting ‘overhang’ west Europe (but interestingly, and the yellowish stripe along not yet in Iceland, either). For a the edge of the bill. If she were lot of birders who travelled to on her own, however, the female see the bird, the views were would be a real challenge on this much better than they’d ever view. managed to get of an adult male Velvet Scoter, so it made a big and lasting impression – a wonderful bird! SERGEY YELISEEV PAUL AND ANDREA KELLY (WWW.IRISHBIRDIMAGES.COM) ❯

48 Birdwatch•February 2014 www.birdwatch.co.uk www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 49

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14 14 Female Velvet Scoter (Utš, 17 Juvenile Velvet Scoter 17 Finland, 24 May 2009). The (Clitheroe, Lancashire, 26 nicely proportioned head and bill December 2009). Occasionally, and smoothly concave profile are Velvet Scoters (usually juveniles) typical of female Velvet Scoter. appear very close to shore on The extent and shape of the the sea or on lakes and are feathering on the sides of the bill remarkably confiding. Such birds provides a reliable means of present an ideal opportunity to distinguishing female Velvet from familiarise oneself with the more the two ‘White-winged’ taxa; in subtle identification criteria Velvet, the anterior edge of the discussed in this article. Apart feathering between the gape and from being interesting in itself, the culmen runs in an almost the first-hand knowledge gained straight diagonal, or a gently from such observation will prove curved arc, passing a few invaluable if you ever come millimetres behind the nostril across a bird that looks like a White-winged or a Stejneger’s! MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) (WWW.BIRDSONFILM.COM)STEVE YOUNG

15 15 Juvenile male American 18 Juvenile American White- 18 White-winged Scoter (Parksville, winged Scoter (Burlington, Canada, 2 November 2007). The Canada, 12 December 2011). Surf Scoter-like heavy-billed, As is so often the case, the long-faced appearance is American counterparts of characteristic of American White- European species can be so winged Scoter. At close range it much easier to study at close may be possible to determine range, as this photograph that the feathering on the side of demonstrates! The straight, the bill in both White-winged and more Common Eider-like head Stejenger’s Scoters projects a profile of this individual is similar little further forward than in to Stejneger’s and is a reminder Velvet (see photo 14), that some of the subtle terminating in a broad point differences discussed in this below and slightly behind the article do not necessarily remain nostril. The lighter pinkish areas constant, changing slightly developing on the bill indicate according to the bird’s mood and this is a juvenile male. activity. A further useful detail, clearly visible in this image, is that the feathering on American White-winged extends further forward on the culmen than it GLENN BARTLEY (WWW.BIRDIMAGENCY.COM) BARTLEY GLENN does in Stejneger’s. PERCEPTIONSDAN’S

16 16 Female Stejneger’s Scoter 19 Juvenile Stejneger’s Scoter 19 (Hokkaido, Japan, 21 December (Ulleung, South Korea, 21 2012). Female Stejenger’s November 2013). This Scoter has the most Common instructive image of a juvenile Eider-like profile of all, but Stejneger’s conveys the curiously, it sometimes doesn’t characteristic ‘Roman-nosed’ look as impressively big billed as profile perfectly. A further small American White-winged. This detail that helps distinguish illusion is possibly due to the female-type Stejneger’s from lack of definition between the American White-winged is the forehead and the bill, with the extent of feathering onto the feather-covered bulky bill-base culmen (the ‘ridge’ at the top of being perceived as part of the the bill). In American White- head. The extensive feathering winged it projects a little further on the side of the bill can just be forward, usually to a point made out in this photo. directly above the rear edge of the nostril; it stops further back in Stejneger’s. STUART PRICE STUART NIAL MOORES NIAL ❯

50 Birdwatch•February 2014 www.birdwatch.co.uk www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 51

1402 p45-52 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 50 13/01/2014 09:14 1402 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 51 10/01/2014 15:50 Ultravid HD binoculars Trinovid compact binoculars IDENTIFICATION In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk

14 14 Female Velvet Scoter (Utš, 17 Juvenile Velvet Scoter 17 Finland, 24 May 2009). The (Clitheroe, Lancashire, 26 nicely proportioned head and bill December 2009). Occasionally, and smoothly concave profile are Velvet Scoters (usually juveniles) typical of female Velvet Scoter. appear very close to shore on The extent and shape of the the sea or on lakes and are feathering on the sides of the bill remarkably confiding. Such birds provides a reliable means of present an ideal opportunity to distinguishing female Velvet from familiarise oneself with the more the two ‘White-winged’ taxa; in subtle identification criteria Velvet, the anterior edge of the discussed in this article. Apart feathering between the gape and from being interesting in itself, the culmen runs in an almost the first-hand knowledge gained straight diagonal, or a gently from such observation will prove curved arc, passing a few invaluable if you ever come millimetres behind the nostril across a bird that looks like a White-winged or a Stejneger’s! MARKUS VARESVUO (WWW.BIRDPHOTO.FI) (WWW.BIRDSONFILM.COM)STEVE YOUNG

15 15 Juvenile male American 18 Juvenile American White- 18 White-winged Scoter (Parksville, winged Scoter (Burlington, Canada, 2 November 2007). The Canada, 12 December 2011). Surf Scoter-like heavy-billed, As is so often the case, the long-faced appearance is American counterparts of characteristic of American White- European species can be so winged Scoter. At close range it much easier to study at close may be possible to determine range, as this photograph that the feathering on the side of demonstrates! The straight, the bill in both White-winged and more Common Eider-like head Stejenger’s Scoters projects a profile of this individual is similar little further forward than in to Stejneger’s and is a reminder Velvet (see photo 14), that some of the subtle terminating in a broad point differences discussed in this below and slightly behind the article do not necessarily remain nostril. The lighter pinkish areas constant, changing slightly developing on the bill indicate according to the bird’s mood and this is a juvenile male. activity. A further useful detail, clearly visible in this image, is that the feathering on American White-winged extends further forward on the culmen than it GLENN BARTLEY (WWW.BIRDIMAGENCY.COM) BARTLEY GLENN does in Stejneger’s. PERCEPTIONSDAN’S

16 16 Female Stejneger’s Scoter 19 Juvenile Stejneger’s Scoter 19 (Hokkaido, Japan, 21 December (Ulleung, South Korea, 21 2012). Female Stejenger’s November 2013). This Scoter has the most Common instructive image of a juvenile Eider-like profile of all, but Stejneger’s conveys the curiously, it sometimes doesn’t characteristic ‘Roman-nosed’ look as impressively big billed as profile perfectly. A further small American White-winged. This detail that helps distinguish illusion is possibly due to the female-type Stejneger’s from lack of definition between the American White-winged is the forehead and the bill, with the extent of feathering onto the feather-covered bulky bill-base culmen (the ‘ridge’ at the top of being perceived as part of the the bill). In American White- head. The extensive feathering winged it projects a little further on the side of the bill can just be forward, usually to a point made out in this photo. directly above the rear edge of the nostril; it stops further back in Stejneger’s. STUART PRICE STUART NIAL MOORES NIAL ❯

50 Birdwatch•February 2014 www.birdwatch.co.uk www.birdwatch.co.uk Birdwatch•February 2014 51

1402 p45-52 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 50 13/01/2014 09:14 1402 ScotersID Guide v3.indd 51 10/01/2014 15:50 Ultravid HD binoculars IDENTIFICATION In association with www.leica-sportoptics.co.uk

20 21 SMART BREITSCH MARTIN JOHN 20 Juvenile female Surf Scoter (Vancouver Island, Canada, January 21 Juvenile male Surf Scoter (Denver, Colorado, USA, 19 October 2008). This image serves to remind us of how superficially similar 2013). The straight, Common Eider-like profile in this image is similar American White-winged is to Surf Scoter in female-type plumages. to Stejneger’s Scoter, but the lack of white in the wing or extensive Confusion is not likely, however, as Surf lacks white wing-patches and feathering onto the base of the bill leaves absolutely no room for is a significantly smaller bird overall. confusion!

Adult male scoters Adult female scoters Where to American White-winged watch scoters American White-winged THE recent occurrence of Stejneger’s Scoter at Rossbeigh, Co Kerry, in March 2011, quickly followed by American White-winged Scoter off Blackdog, Aberdeenshire, in June 2011 excitingly underline the potential of disocvering one of the two mega species virtually anywhere at any time. Interestingly, both were found not during migration but in moult gatherings of . These larger flocks of Stejneger’s Stejneger’s scoter can be found at many sites round our coasts, but are often way offshore. However, traditional concentrations can be scoped in Carmarthen and Cardigan Bays off the Welsh coast, in the Moray Firth, Scotland, and at several places Velvet along the north Norfolk coast. Velvet Keep an eye on BirdGuides (www.birdguides.com) for recent reports, and remember to scrupulously scrutinise passing black lines of scoters, not just for the white wing-flash of a Velvet, but for the bill profiles that could Stejneger’s indicate an extreme vagrant. ■ American White-winged READS Frontiers in Birding by Martin Garner and Friends This exceptional book covers many subjects at the cutting edge of bird identi cation. The meat of the book is Martin Garner’s chapters on thorny identi cation problems, which include taking a much more First-summer male detailed look at this tricky seaduck complex. Purchase for just £9.99; SRP £19.99. Stejneger’s To order, see page 75, call 020 8881 0550 or visit the Birdwatch Bookshop at LEWINGTON LEWINGTON Velvet www.birdwatch.co.uk/store. IAN IAN

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