scoters
Dark diving ducks
Scoters are stocky sea ducks found along northern coastlines.
The males are mostly black, the females brown.
Three species inhabit North American waters: the black scoter, surf scoter, and white-winged scoter.
They dive for mollusks and crustaceans in coastal waters: A raft of scoters bobbed in the swells beyond the breakers.
Aerial migration corridors
- arcticOf extreme northern cold
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- southwardToward the equator's direction
- northwardToward the top
flocks · overwintering · stopover · coastal · staging · Pacific · Atlantic · tundra
Swimming birds collectively
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
- seabirdOcean-dwelling winged creature
- waterbirdAvian that frequents lakes
- avianOf or concerning birds
Waves near shore
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
- coastlineLand-water boundary
- marineRelating to the sea
- oceanicOf the sea
coastal · mollusks · crustaceans · mussels · clams · bivalves · kelp · jetties
Darkest possible hue
- melanisticHaving surplus dark pigment
- velvetThick-pile textile
- surfWaves near shore
- darkAbsence of light
iridescent · glossy · speculum · knob · drake · hen · juvenile · eclipse
Of the sea bottom
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- underwaterBelow the surface
- submergePlunge beneath liquid
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
flyways
Aerial migration corridors
- arcticOf extreme northern cold
- breedingReproductive cultivation of organisms
- southwardToward the equator's direction
northward · flocks · overwintering · stopover · coastal · staging · Pacific · Atlantic · tundra · boreal
waterfowl
Swimming birds collectively
- ornithologyScientific study of birds
- seabirdOcean-dwelling winged creature
- waterbirdAvian that frequents lakes
avian · species · identification · birding
surf
Waves near shore
oceanic · coastal · mollusks · crustaceans · mussels · clams · bivalves · kelp · jetties · rafting
black
Darkest possible hue
- melanisticHaving surplus dark pigment
- velvetThick-pile textile
- surfWaves near shore
dark · iridescent · glossy · speculum · knob · drake · hen · juvenile · eclipse · molting
benthic
Of the sea bottom
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- underwaterBelow the surface
- submergePlunge beneath liquid
depths · buoyancy · submersion · propulsion