Black Scoter

Melanitta nigra (Linnaeus, 1758)

2019-11-06 NE Caspian Sea	© Donald M

Distribution

Seen on migration near Presnovka village in Northern Kazakhstan (Drobovzev, Vilkov, 1997b), on Shiganak in Pavlodar region (Solomatin, 1999b), around Kustanay, on Chu (17 September 1925, one bird) and Syrdarya (30 October 1909) rivers. Male and female recorded 2 June 1963 near Presnovka. On the coast of Bautino, on January 10, 2015, Common Scoter was photographed in a flock of long-tailed ducks (Kovshar, Karpov, 2014 b).

Biology

Very rare passage migrant. Occurs on big lakes and rivers. In spring observed mid-April, in autumn recorded mid-September and end October.

References

Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Рябицев В. К., Ковшарь А. Ф., Ковшарь В. А., Березовиков Н. Н. «Полевой определитель птиц Казахстана», Алматы, 2014. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.