Cogswell 1948 2 Melanitta perspicillata Dec. 18 - Tomales Bay, Marin Co., Calif (cont'd.) Plumage: all degrees of change from immaturity were in evidence among the males, although majority were settled, fully adult with both white nape (which adanson says is some. times absent) and forehead or fairly close to 4 plumage. The distinction in these latter is evident by a general darkening of the whole head to a bluish brown. wing sound in flight: most amazing to me was the distance to which the low whistle produced by the scoters' wings would carry. sometimes so far that the bird would be settling on the water again before I could determine the direction of the sound. of course the day was very clear, and with relatively little wind, which makes for ideal sound transmission over water. also, this being the first time I can recall of seeing scoters fly over still water, I concluded the sound is normally kept from my ears by the crashing of surf along the shore.