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The Labrador Duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius) was an striking black and white eider-like sea duck which was never very common, and was the first bird to go extinct in North America since 1500. It also was known as a Pied Duck, a vernacular name that it previously shared with the Surf Scoter and the Common Goldeneye (and even the American Oystercatcher!), this has led to difficulties in interpreting old records of the species.
Although it was hunted for food, this bird probably died out because of decline due to pollution of mussels and other shellfish that it is believed to have fed on. It was thought to breed in Labrador, although no nests were ever described, and it wintered from Nova Scotia to as far south as Chesapeake Bay.
The last Labrador Duck was seen at Elmira, New York on December 12, 1878.
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