Page 112 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Aythya fuligula
Tufted Duck dark brown short crest
on nape
body with
paler flanks
bold white slight tuft
wingbar
dark, dull
brown body
yellow FEMALE
eye
MALE
bluish bill
with large
black tip
MALE (SUMMER)
long, wispy
tuft on nape
black body with
white flanks
FEMALE

IN FLIGHT

MALE
(WINTER)
his is a common diving duck, swimming
Tand feeding in flocks, with individuals disappearing
under in search of food. Males are strongly contrasted except FLIGHT: fast but not manouevrable; flocks make
in mid-summer, while females are dark and dull. Flocks are tight, irregular packs.
often mixed with Pochards and are worth scanning
through for individuals of rarer species that are
naturally attracted to their company.Tufted Ducks are
sometimes semi-tame and come for food on ponds in
town parks. Even flocks on lakes and reservoirs often
tolerate a quite close approach, or simply swim away
from disturbance.
VOICE Deep, grating growl; male calls with nasal
whistles during courtship.
NESTING Down-lined hollow in long vegetation
close to water; 8–11 eggs; 1 brood; May–June. WINTER FLOCK
FEEDING Dives underwater from surface to find Tufted Ducks, with Pochards, form quiet, sleepy flocks on inland waters;
molluscs and insects. these flocks are sometimes quite large.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Widespread; breeds in long grass
grey back POCHARD 2similar around fresh waters such as
on male to 2; see p.108 flooded pits. In winter, widespread
grey bill white eye-
with tiny ring and often abundant, with huge
black tip numbers on sheltered coastal
waters, and small flocks on gravel
pits, reservoirs, and sheltered coasts.
SCAUP 32; 2has white paler Seen in the UK
face patch; see p.109 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 40–47cm (16–18 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 67–73cm (26–29in) Weight 450–1,000g (16–36oz)
Social Large flocks Lifespan 10–15 years Status Secure
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