Black Scoter Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

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Alaska, June 07, 2009Recorded by Benjamin Clock / Macaulay Library
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Quebec, May 09, 2019Recorded by Jocelyn Lauzon / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Courting males give a mournful-sounding, descending whistle, wheeoooooo, and courting females often call in response. Another vocalization is a rattling tuka-tuka-tuka-tuk, but this is seldom heard. Flight calls described in this species include a low growling sound and a reedy tooooo-it, sometimes repeated.

Other Sounds

As with White-winged, Surf, and Common Scoters, the wings of Black Scoters produce a strong whistling noise in flight. Some authors suggest that only adult males’ wings make this sound.