Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra), Parker Dam, La Paz County

This Black Scoter was discovered by Rick Fridell on 11 December 2010 and photographed in Arizona by David Vander Pluym on 26 December 2010.  It seems to spend most of its time on the California side of the river. 

The rarest of the three scoter species in Arizona with about 10 accepted records for the state. This year has seen an exceptional number of reports, so it is perhaps increasing. Most records are of female plumaged birds.

The most recent AOU checklist split Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) into two species. The species in North America and eastern Siberia is now called Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) and the species of Europe and the rest of Asia is called Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra). There are no records of Common Scoter in North America.

Dark cap with a contrasting pale cheek patch identifies this scoter. The all dark bill indicates a female.

26 December 2010, photo by David Vander Pluym

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