Markus Varesvuo / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) male approaching other birds on water. Finland, May. Magic Moments book plate, page 18.

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) female (foreground) and male on water. Finland, May. Magic Moments book plate, page 150.

Markus Varesvuo / Male Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) flying, Uto, Finland, May, Vulnerable species.

Markus Varesvuo / Female Velvet Scoter (Melanita fucca) on water, Uts Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Three male and two female Velvet Scoter (Melanita fucca) flying, Uts, Finland May

Markus Varesvuo / Pair of Velvet Scoters (Melanita fucca) in flight, Uts Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Male Velvet Scoter (Melanita fucca) on water, Uts, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Female Velvet Scoter (Melanita fucca) in flight, Uts, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Male Velvet Scoter (Melanita fucca) in flight, Uts, Finland, May

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca), adult male. Lågskär, Finland. May.

Ingo Waschkies / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) male, Gotland, Sweden

Richard Steel / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) feeding on a clam, Barrow, United Kingdom

Glenn Bartley / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca), British Columbia, Canada

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet scoter (Melanita fusca) with ducklings on water, Uto, Finland, July

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) attacking a Herring gull (Larus argentatus) that has snatched a Velvet scoter duckling, Finland, July

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) attacking Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) whilst Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) catches a Velvet Scoter chick, Finland July

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) female with brood of ducklings on water, Finland July

Markus Varesvuo / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) males fighting on water. Finland, May. Magic Moments book plate, page 19.

Gerrit Vyn / White-winged / Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca) male on water, Whatcom County, Washington, USA, March.

David Cottridge / Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) male on water, Kuusamo, Finland

Joel Sartore / Photo Ark / Velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) male opening its beak and vocalising, Lundi Farm. Captive.