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Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Identify the Long-tailed Duck by sound or photo and log your sightings with Birdpass.

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The Long-tailed Duck is a medium-sized sea duck that breeds on tundra lakes and pools across the Arctic and winters on northern seas, the Baltic being a major wintering area. Males are instantly recognised by their long, pointed tail and striking black-and-white plumage that changes with the seasons. It is a powerful diver that uses its wings underwater. Declines in key wintering areas and drowning in gillnets have led to its assessment as Vulnerable.

Did you know?

  • In 2000 the North American name “oldsquaw” was officially replaced by “Long-tailed Duck”.
  • It can dive to depths of 60 m or more.

Voice

Sound

About the species

Identification

A medium-sized sea duck with a black, brown and white overall look. In late winter and spring the male is easy to recognise by its very long, thin tail streamers and pale cheeks and neck against the darker breast and back; females and young are browner, often with pale cheeks and shorter tails. In flight it shows strong black-and-white contrast and a pale belly; it often calls a yodelling “a-ah-lee”.

Family

Anatidae

Size

Large (crow)

Colours

white, black, brown

About the habitat

Breeds on small lakes, pools and slow streams of the Arctic tundra and fells. In winter cold offshore waters, coasts and large lakes.

Diet

Mainly molluscs such as mussels and snails, crustaceans and small fish, taken by diving, sometimes to great depths.

Behaviour

Highly migratory and gregarious, gathering in huge flocks offshore in winter and on migration. It dives deep, propelled by its wings. Males are very vocal, with a musical, yodelling “a-ah-lee” call. It nests on the ground near water in a down-lined cup; the female lays 5–11 eggs, incubates for about 23–24 days and largely raises the brood.

Sources

Photo: Wolfgang Wander, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Long-tailed-duck.jpg

Sound: Tony Phillips, CC BY 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clangula_hyemalis.ogg

Text: Wikipedia (English) + FinBIF species descriptions + Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0; FinBIF: CC BY 4.0; Wikipedia: CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-tailed_duck

See also