This species differs very little from Fuligula nigra, being nearly of the same size, proportions, and colours. The male differs from that of the other species in having the sides of the unguis narrowed, and the orange patch on the upper mandible less extended beyond the nostrils, and destitute of the median black line and lateral streak.
Male, 19, 331/2. Female, 17, 291/2.
In winter abundant in the Bays of Boston, New York, and Chesapeake, and as far south as the mouth of the Mississippi. Never inland. Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic seas.
Scoter Duck, Anas nigra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 135.
Fuligula nigra, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.
Oidemia americana, Swains. American Scoter, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 450.
American Scoter Duck, Fuligula americana, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 422.
American Scoter Duck, Fuligula americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. v. p. 117.
***** Bill shorter than the head, with a basal protuberance above, the inner secondaries curved outwards.
405. 10. Fuligula spectabilis, Linn. King Duck.
Plate CCLXXVI. Male and Female.
Upper mandible with a soft tumid compressed substance at the base, extending perpendicularly upon the forehead, and by a medial band of feathers divided into two broad lobes; tail much rounded, of fourteen stiff feathers. Male with the bill flesh-coloured. The sides of the upper mandible and soft frontal lobes bright orange; band of feathers separating the frontal lobes and margining their upper and posterior edges, lower eyelid, and a forked patch on the throat, black; upper part of head ash-grey; hair-like feathers on the sides of the head pale bluish-green; fore neck cream-coloured; sides and hind part of neck, a patch on the wings, and another on each side of the rump, white; hind part of back, scapulars, large wing-coverts, and secondary quills, brownish-black, the latter glossed with green; primary quills and tail blackish-brown; breast and abdomen blackish-brown; lower wing-coverts white, the outer brown. Female with the bill shorter, pale greenish-grey, with the tumid basal lobes scarcely apparent, so that the forehead is low; head and neck pale greyish-yellow, with small lines of brownish-black; feathers of the back brownish-black towards the end, with yellowish-grey edges; the scapulars brownish-red on the margins; quills and tail-feathers deep greyish-brown; fore part of neck, breast, sides, and lower tail-coverts, with a central mark and submarginal band of brownish-black, the middle of the breast scarcely spotted, being of the general colour of the lower parts, which is pale yellowish-brown.
Male, 25; wing, 111/4. Female, 20; wing, 101/2.