Tufted duck

The tufted duck (scientific name: Aythya fuligula) is one of the commonest diving ducks in Europe, also being found in much of Africa and Asia, but it is not native to the Americas. Most of the UK population is resident, but those found in parts of Scotland may be wintering from Iceland or Russia. Any birds found in North America will also be winter visitors, or resting during migration.


Appearance

In size about 17 inches (41-45 cm) long, and weighing around one-and-a-half pounds, the tufted duck is a round-headed diving duck with a distinctive drooping crest and short neck. The male is black with white sides, while the female is mainly dark brown with paler flanks. Both males and females have a bold white bar on the wings and white underwings that are very prominent in flight. The male birds have a glossy purple sheen on their heads, and their crests are longer than those of the females. Both sexes have bright yellow eyes. The bills of the males are grey-blue with a black tip, whereas the females have darker grey bills, sometimes with a white patch on the face at the base of the bill. The legs and feet of both sexes are grey.


Behaviour

They are one of the quieter species of duck, with the males being mostly silent except during courtship, when they produce low whistling sounds. The females have a growling “kurr-kurr” call.

Tufted ducks live on lakes and slow rivers with reedy shores. They often winter on more open water, such as sheltered estuaries. However, they have adapted well to the presence of people, and will happily occupy man-made environments such as lakes in city parks. Outside the breeding season they will gather together in large flocks.

They feed on water-plants, invertebrates, molluscs and small fish, and will dive to considerable depths to find food amongst the mud and stones on lake and river bottoms.


Breeding

Typically they build nests on small islands close to the bank, often with several pairs nesting close together. They may also nest alongside other species such as seagulls or terns. Terns are aggressive towards predators, and the ducks therefore benefit from the protection they offer.

The nests are made from grass or reeds, and lined with down. The clutch, laid between May and July in UK conditions, is around eight to eleven eggs. The males help with nest building and protecting the females, but do not take part in incubating the eggs, which hatch in about 25 days. Fledging takes about six weeks before the ducklings are able to look after themselves.

The tufted duck is a species that has shown an increase in numbers world-wide over the past century, due to its ability to adapt to greater urbanization. It is not therefore regarded by conservationists as being at risk.

© John Welford