Thetufted duck (ortufted pochard) (Aythya fuligula) is a smalldiving duck with a population of nearly one million birds, found in northern Eurasia. They are partially migratory. The scientific name is derived fromAncient Greekaithuia, an unidentifiedseabird mentioned by authors such asHesychius andAristotle, andLatinfuligo 'soot' andgula 'throat'. It is agame bird.[3]
The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill with golden yellow eyes, along with a thin crest on the back of the head. It has a prominent tuft on its head, which gives the species its name. The adult female is brown with lighter flanks, and is more easily confused with other diving ducks. In particular, some have white around the base of the bill, resembling thescaup species, although the white is never as extensive as that of thoseducks. The female's call is a harsh, growling "karr", usually given in flight. Males are mostly silent but will whistle during courtship, based on a simple "wit-oo".
The only ducks that are similar are thegreater scaup andlesser scaup, but these species lack the tuft and emit a different call.
The tufted duck is one of the species to which theAgreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.[11]
Refer to the following table for measurements of the tufted duck:[12]
The tufted duck breeds throughout temperate and northernEurasia. It occasionally can be found as a winter visitor along both coasts of theUnited States andCanada. It is believed to have expanded its traditional range with the increased availability of open water due to gravel extraction, and the spread of freshwatermussels, a favourite food. These ducks aremigratory in most of their range, and overwinter in the milder south and west ofEurope, southernAsia and all year in theBritish Isles. One individual has been reported as far south asMelbourne,Australia.[13] They form large flocks on open water in winter.
Their breeding habitat is close tomarshes and lakes with plenty of vegetation to conceal the nest. They are also found on coastallagoons,shorelines and sheltered ponds.
In northern Europe breeding takes place between mid May and the end of July. They are not colonial but sometimes the nests can be in a loose group. Most nests are placed beside water; an island site is preferred. The nest is built by the female and consists of depression in the ground that is lined with grass, reeds and down. The clutch consists of 8–11 greenish-grey eggs that measure 59 mm × 41 mm (2.3 in × 1.6 in). They are incubated by the female starting after the clutch is complete so that they hatch synchronously. The female covers the eggs with down when she is away from the nest. The eggs hatch after around 25 days (range 23–28 days). The young areprecocial andnidifugous. They can feed themselves and are cared for by the female who broods them when they are small. They typically fledge when aged between 45 and 50 days. Tufted ducks usually first breed at one year but occasionally at 2 years.[14]
These birds feed mainly by diving, but they will sometimes upend from the surface.[15] They eatmolluscs, aquaticinsects and some plants and sometimes feed at night.
They are hunted as sport in the UK, Italy, Iran, Finland and Denmark, and commercially in Iran. Eggs used to be (and maybe continue to be) gathered in Iceland.[16]Because it feeds on the water bottom, it can taste "muddy" and is considered a less tasty duck.[17]
^Jobling, James A. (2010).The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 64,165.ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^Carboneras, Carles (1992)."Family Anatidae (Ducks, Geese and Swans)". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. (eds.).Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. pp. 536–628 [618].ISBN84-87334-10-5.
^Ogilvie, Malcolm A. (1986)."Tufted Duck". In Lack, Peter (ed.).The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. London, UK: T & AD Poyser. p. 110.ISBN978-1-4081-3828-1. Retrieved12 August 2014.
Cramp, Stanley, ed. (1977). "Aythya fuliga Tufted duck".Handbook of the Birds of Europe the Middle East and North Africa. The Birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. I: Ostrich to Ducks. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 577–586.ISBN978-0-19-857358-6.
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