Definition:
(noun) A type of diving sea-duck with a bulky body. All scoters have bills that appear swollen when compared to more familiar duck species, though this is most prominent on male birds. Scoters’ plumage is typically dark and drab for both males and females, though males tend more toward black plumage while females have dark brown coloring. These birds nest in far northern habitats, though in winter they migrate along coastal areas.
There are five species of scoter: black, common, surf, velvet and white-winged.
Photo – Surf Scoter © Mike Baird, flickr.bairdphotos.com
Pronunciation:
SKOH-ter
Common Misspellings:
Scooter
