Scoters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Stocky sea ducks with dark plumage, found in northern coastal waters and freshwater lakes, that dive for mollusks and crustaceans
2. Dark-feathered diving ducks of northern seas and lakes that feed on shellfish and other small invertebrates underwater
3. Heavy-bodied waterfowl belonging to the genus Melanitta, known for their black or brown plumage and diving foraging habits

Etymology: The scoter is a stocky sea duck, and the plural "scoters" is simply the form used when more than one bird is meant. The bird's name itself is a genuine puzzle: its origin is uncertain, and no firmly documented root has been established for it. Because the word cannot be traced to a confirmed source, any story about its meaning would be guesswork. What can be said with confidence is that "scoters" belongs to the group of northern seaduck species, which gather in large flocks on coastal waters in winter, and that the name has been applied to these birds in English for a long time.