Photo: D. Gordon E. Robertson / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Waterbirds

Velvet Scoter

Melanitta fusca

Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 11 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of England Birds of Bedfordshire Birds of Buckinghamshire Birds of Berkshire Birds of Cambridgeshire Birds of Cumbria Birds of Cornwall Birds of Derbyshire Birds of Devon Birds of Dorset

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Melanitta
Species fusca

Where it lives

Northern Europe from Norway to Yenisey River (central Siberia) and northeastern Kazakhstan, also Turkey and Georgia

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 1.8 kg
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Velvet Scoter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Velvet Scoter is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL n Europe from Norway to Yenisey River (c Siberia) and ne Kazakhstan, also Turkey and Georgia.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.8 kg, with a wing length of about 25.9 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Velvet Scoter — Call, flight call

Recorded by Alan Dalton Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Velvet Scoter?

The Velvet Scoter is a very large bird that weighs around 1.8 kg.

Where does the Velvet Scoter live?

The Velvet Scoter is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL n Europe from Norway to Yenisey River (c Siberia) and ne Kazakhstan, also Turkey and Georgia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Velvet Scoter belong to?

The Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Velvet Scoter eat?

The Velvet Scoter hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Velvet Scoter migrate?

The Velvet Scoter is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Velvet Scoter endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Velvet Scoter make?

1 real field recording of the Velvet Scoter — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Velvet Scoter's range?

The Velvet Scoter has a mapped global range of about 5.1 million km².