BirdNote Daily The Music of Black Scoters
Nov 24, 2025
Explore the intriguing world of Black Scoters, the large, buoyant sea ducks known for their distinctive musical wail. Discover the striking differences between males and females, from the drake's sleek black plumage to the female's subtle brown markings. Learn about their unique tail-sitting behavior and their diet of mollusks and sea worms. Plus, find out where to catch a glimpse of these fascinating ducks along northern shorelines.
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Mysterious Musical Wail
- Male black scoters produce a drawn-out, eerie, musical wail that carries across northern bays.
- That vocalization serves as an unmistakable clue to their presence on winter waters.
Seasonal Habitat Shift
- Black scoters are sea ducks that winter on saltwater bays after nesting on freshwater tundra ponds.
- They migrate south each fall and appear across bays throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
Striking Male And Female Plumage
- The drake is jet black with a bright yellow knob on its bill that stands out on dark water.
- Females are dark brown with a vivid brown and white face, offering clear sexual dimorphism.