22-3-2024 BIOPARC, VALENCIA - TUFTED DUCK (MALE) (Aythya fuligula) NIKON P900

The tufted duck (or tufted pochard[citation needed]) (Aythya fuligula) is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds, found in northern Eurasia. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin fuligo 'soot' and gula 'throat'.

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".

The only ducks which are similar are the greater scaup and lesser scaup, but these species have no tuft and a different call.

30-3-2023 TABLAS DE DIAMIEL, MURCIA - TUFTED DUCK (MALE) (Aythya fuligula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7046-Aythya-fuligula

2-3-2022 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - TUFTED DUCK (MALE) (Aythya fuligula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7046-Aythya-fuligula

28-2-2022 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - TUFTED DUCK (MALE) (Aythya fuligula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7046-Aythya-fuligula

24-5-2021 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - TUFTED DUCK (MALE) (Aythya fuligula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7046-Aythya-fuligula

20-11-2017 LAKESIDE, ESSEX - TUFTED DUCK (Aythya fuligula)

The tufted duck, or tufted pochard, is a small diving duck with a population approaching one million birds. The males are striking with their black plumage contrasted by white flanks and a blue-grey bill, crowned with a distinctive tuft on the back of the head. Their eyes are a remarkable gold-yellow. Females, on the other hand, are cloaked in brown with paler flanks and may have some white around the bill base, though not as pronounced as in scaup species.

When identifying the tufted duck, look for the male's black body, white sides, and the namesake tuft on the back of the head. Females are more subdued in color but can be distinguished by their brown plumage and paler sides. Both sexes share a similar structure and size, with an average length of 43.2 cm and a wingspan that ranges from 19.4 to 21.2 cm.

These ducks favor marshes and lakes with abundant vegetation, which provides cover for nesting. They are also found in coastal lagoons, along shorelines, and in sheltered ponds.

The tufted duck breeds across temperate and northern Eurasia. In winter, they migrate to milder regions in the south and west of Europe, southern Asia, and are year-round residents in the British Isles. They have been known to appear as winter visitors along the coasts of the United States and Canada and have been spotted as far afield as Melbourne, Australia.

Tufted ducks are gregarious outside of the breeding season, forming large flocks on open water. They are migratory in much of their range, seeking out the milder climates during the colder months.

The female tufted duck emits a harsh, growling "karr" mostly in flight, while the male is generally silent but may produce a simple "wit-oo" whistle during courtship.

These ducks nest near marshes and lakes where dense vegetation can conceal their nests from potential predators.

The tufted duck can be confused with the greater and lesser scaup. However, the scaup species lack the characteristic head tuft and have different calls.

Tufted ducks are divers, plunging below the surface to forage for molluscs, aquatic insects, and some plant material. They have also been known to upend from the water's surface and may feed nocturnally.

The tufted duck is currently listed as Least Concern globally by the IUCN, though it is considered Near Threatened in Europe. The species is protected under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).

30-9-2016 MALDON, ESSEX - TUFTED DUCK (MALE) (Aythya fuligula)

The Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) is a small diving duck found in northern Eurasia. Its scientific name comes from Ancient Greek word aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin words fuligo "soot" and gula "throat".

Adult males of this species are all black in color except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill with gold-yellow eyes, along with a thin crest on the back of their heads. They have an obvious head tuft that gives these birds their name. Adult females are brown with paler flanks and are more easily confused with other diving ducks. In flight Tufted ducks show a white stripe across the back of the wing.

Population size

2,6-2,9 Mlnlnn

Life Span

4 years

Weight

560-1000

goz

g oz 

Length

40-47

cminch

cm inch 

Wingspan

65-72

cminch

cm inch 

Tufted ducks breed throughout temperate and northern Eurasia. They occasionally can be found as a winter visitor along both coasts of the United States and Canada. These ducks are migratory in most of their range and overwinter in the milder south and west of Europe, Africa, Middle-East, Southern Asia and all year in most of the United Kingdom. Tufted ducks breed close to marshes and lakes with plenty of vegetation to conceal the nest. They are also found on coastal lagoons, shorelines, estuaries, sheltered ponds, slow-flowing rivers, tidal bays or freshwater wetlands.

Tufted ducks are social birds and often form large flocks on open water in winter. They are highly aquatic and spend most of their life in the water. These birds feed mainly by diving, but they will sometimes upend from the surface. They are generally active during the day but migrate by night. Tufted ducks communicate with each other vocally. 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".