Melanitta nigra; the Common Scoter is a duck species of coastal seas but occasionally can be seen on shores outside the breeding season. During the breeding season though, it migrates to inland lakes. On Iceland the most common area of breeding is at Mývatn. The drakes spend a short period of time during the mating season in early spring. They leave then towards coastal regions to moult. The females stay to breed the eggs and rear the chicks for a longer period, before turning back to the coastal seas.
They are relatively rather large ducks. The males are easily recognized as all black birds with a characteristic notched beak. The females can also be easily recognized by their light flanks on the necks as well as in the lower parts of the heads.