Tufted Duck

Overview

Tufted Duck: Medium-sized diving duck with long black crest and dull black back and tail. Underparts and sides are bright white. Head, neck and breast are black with a purple sheen. Wings are black with dark-edged, broad white stripes visible in flight. Eyes are yellow; legs and feet are gray.

Range and Habitat

Tufted Duck: Breeds across Eurasia from Iceland and the British Isles east across Russia and Siberia to the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Commander Islands; breeding has not been reported in North America. They are casual visitors on northern coasts during migration. Found in large lakes and bays.

INTERESTING FACTS

Tufted Ducks have increased their range and numbers in the past 100 years. An increased availability of open water due to gravel extraction and man-made lakes offer the ideal feeding habitat for them. They are one of the most common diving ducks. They are quite tame and have adapted well to man-made lakes, even in busy city parks. This Old World bird is a counterpart of the Ring-necked Duck of North America. A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.