Stejneger's Scoter

Melanitta stejnegeri

Introduction

Stejneger's Scoter is the eastern counterpart of Velvet Scoter and forms a triplet of species with the North American sister species, the White-winged Scoter. Stejneger's Scoters breed in northeast Asia, wintering in the eastern seabird of Asia and Siberia.

Over recent decades there have been several occurrences around the Baltic, perhaps indicative of a westward winter-range expansion. The first UK record was in the large scoter flocks of the Firth of Forth in southeast Scotland in 2022, with sightings in subsequent winters of presumably the same returning bird.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

1.2kg

Seasonality

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

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No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Lothian, 2022

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Movement

Information about Stejneger's Scoter movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Stejneger's Scoter, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Stejneger's Scoter

Classification and Codes

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Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Scientific name: Melanitta stejnegeri
Authority: Ridgway, 1887

Euring code number: 2153

Alternate species names

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Catalan: Ànec fosc siberià
Czech: Sibirisk Fløjlsand
Danish: Aziatische Grote Zee-eend
Dutch: Aziatische Grote Zee-eend
Finnish: kyhmypilkkasiipi
French: Macreuse de Sibérie

German: Kamtschatkasamtente
Icelandic: Surtönd
Italian: Orco marino di Stejneger
Lithuanian: sibirin? nuod?gul?
Norwegian: sibirsjøorre

Polish: uhla azjatycka
Portuguese: Negrola-d'asa-branca-siberiana
Slovak: turpan bielokrídly
Spanish: Negrón siberiano
Swedish: sibirisk knölsvärta

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.