Tufted Duck vs Common Scoter

The Tufted Duck is best identified by its distinctive tufted crest and contrasting black and white plumage, while the Common Scoter is uniformly sooty black with a yellow patch on the bill. In flight, the Tufted Duck shows a white wing bar, absent in the Common Scoter.

Tufted Duck: Look for the tufted crest and contrasting black and white plumage. Common Scoter: Note the uniform sooty black coloration and yellow patch on the bill. In flight, the Tufted Duck shows a white wing bar, which is absent in the Common Scoter.

Tufted Duck males have a striking black and white pattern with a violet-blue gloss on the head and a prominent tuft, while females are brown with paler flanks. Common Scoter males are uniformly sooty black with a yellow patch on the bill, and females are dark brown with paler mottling.