Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula
Common in wetlands from marshy and reed-fringed lakes to open reservoirs; locally on the sea in winter, especially when lakes freeze. Boldly patterned male distinctive: black overall with bright white flanks (whiter than scaup) and floppy crest. Female dark brown overall with short crest, paler flanks, staring golden-yellow eyes, and often a messy white patch at base of bill. In flight, both sexes show bold white wingstripe. Often in flocks in winter; feeds mainly by diving, but often spends much of day sleeping. Widespread breeder across Eurasia, wintering to central Africa, India, and Southeast Asia. Rare winter vagrant to North America, where almost always found singly among flocks of scaup. Compared with scaup, Tufted Duck always shows very dark blackish back, and even nearly tuftless females are darker than scaup with more limited white patch on face.
Identification
The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill with gold-yellow eyes, along with a thin crest on the back of its head. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name. The adult female is brown with paler flanks, and is more easily confused with other diving ducks. In particular, some have white around the bill base which resembles the scaup species, although the white is never as extensive as in those ducks. The females' call is a harsh, growling "karr", mostly given in flight. The males are mostly silent but they make whistles during courtship based on a simple "wit-oo".<p>The only ducks which are similar are the greater scaup and lesser scaup, but these species have no tuft and a different call.<p>The tufted duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.<p>Refer to the following table for measurements of the tufted duck:
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aythya fuligula
- Authority
- (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Aythya
Range and habitat
The tufted duck breeds throughout temperate and northern Eurasia. It occasionally can be found as a winter visitor along both coasts of the United States and Canada. It is believed to have expanded its traditional range with the increased availability of open water due to gravel extraction, and the spread of freshwater mussels, a favourite food. These ducks are migratory in most of their range, and overwinter in the milder south and west of Europe, southern Asia and all year in the British Isles. One individual has been reported as far south as Melbourne, Australia. They form large flocks on open water in winter. Their breeding habitat is close to marshes and lakes with plenty of vegetation to conceal the nest. They are also found on coastal lagoons, shorelines and sheltered ponds.
- Breeding range
- PAL : widespread
- Non-breeding range
- AF and n OR
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Elaenia flavogaster
Rather bulky small flycatcher, widespread in tropical lowlands. Fairly common in overgrown brushy clearings, savannas, and other semi-open areas with scattered bushes. Looks like many other small flycatchers, and where multiple species of elaenias occur it is often not possible to identify birds to species. On Yellow-bellied, note its spiky, white-based crest (rarely held flattened), burry drawled call, whitish wingbars, and pale yellow belly; does not flick its wings or tail.
Comoro Blue Vanga
Cyanolanius comorensis
Beautiful blue-and-white vanga – the only member of this mainly Malagasy family that is found in the Comoros. Male is bright blue, with a blue bill; female duller blue, with faintly peach underparts, and a dark bill. Found in remnant humid forest on the Comorian islands of Mohéli and Grand Comoro. Usually found in pairs, often in mixed flocks with other bird species. Call is a rasping scold that is repeated incessantly. Colorful bird that is unmistakable within its restricted range.
Golden-rumped Flowerpecker
Dicaeum annae
A tiny, nondescript, short-tailed songbird with a stubby bill. Olive above and pale below, with gray-washed flanks and a white moustache in both sexes. Males show a yellow rump that is absent in females. Juveniles resemble females but are duller below, with a pale-based bill. Pairs and singles can be found high in trees in wooded areas, forest patches, and edges within the lowlands and mountains. Restricted to the Lesser Sundas. Pale moustache and all-dark undertail separate this species from Thick-billed Flowerpecker. Gives a very high-pitched descending series, “tzee-tzee-tzee-tzee-tzeer-tzeer…”, as well as a soft trilling sound.
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