Tufted Ducks are small diving ducks with long, thin crests behind its head. They have a blue-gray bill and brilliant yellow eyes that stand out against their black head.
Males’ upper half of their bodies are glossy black with a purple color, and the lower half is white. Their webbed feet are black as well.
Females have a shorter crest, dark brown on the breast and back, lighter brown on the sides, and white on their bellies. In flight, both their bodies have a white stripe on their wings.
- Aythya fuligula
- Length: 17 – 18 in (43 – 46 cm)
- Weight: 35.97 oz (1019 g)
- Wingspan: 30 – 35 in (76 -89 cm)
Range
Tufted Ducks are usually found in Eurasia, but they wander to the coasts of the US and Canada, mainly in winter.
Habitat And Diet
You can find Tufted Ducks in large lakes and bays, marshy wetlands, lakes, and ponds with dense vegetation. They’re also found on coastlines, shorelines, and sheltered ponds.
Tufted Ducks are agile divers reaching up to ten feet below the surface of the water. They feed on the roots, seeds, and buds of plants and eat occasional animals like small fish, clams, snails, and insects.
Tufted Duck Calls:
Male Tufted Duck
Female Tufted Duck
Nests
Nests of Tufted Ducks are built on the ground, hidden behind tall grass, weeds, and other plant vegetation. They are made of grass and lined with feathers. The females lay as many as ten eggs, and they take twenty-eight days to hatch.
Fun Fact:
Tufted Ducks have slowly begun to expand their reach because of the creation of artificial lakes that are suitable habitats for them.
