The tufted duck or tufted pochard (Aythya fuligula) is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds, found in northern Eurasia. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latinfuligo "soot" and gula "throat".[2]
The adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill with gold-yellow eyes, along with a thin crest on the back of its head. It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name. The adult female is brown with paler flanks, and is more easily confused with other diving ducks. In particular, some have white around the bill base which resembles the scaup species, although the white is never as extensive as in those ducks. The females' call is a harsh, growling "karr", mostly given in flight. The males are mostly silent but they make whistles during courtship based on a simple "wit-oo".
The only ducks which are similar are the greater scaup and lesser scaup, but these species have no tuft and a different call.
The tufted duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Refer to the following table for measurements of the tufted duck:[3]
Tufted duck measurements
Measurement
Male
Female
Range of mass
753-1026.2 g
629-906.8 g
Average of mass
889.6 g
768.3 g
Range of length
40.6-45.7 cm
40.6-45.7 cm
Average of length
43.2 cm
43.2 cm
Range of wingspan
20.2-21.2 cm
19.4-20.7 cm
Distribution
The tufted duck breeds throughout temperate and northern Eurasia. It occasionally can be found as a winter visitor along both coasts of the United States and Canada. It is believed to have expanded its traditional range with the increased availability of open water due to gravel extraction, and the spread of freshwater mussels, a favourite food. These ducks are migratory in most of their range, and overwinter in the milder south and west of Europe, southern Asia and all year in the British Isles. One individual has been reported as far south as Melbourne, Australia. They form large flocks on open water in winter.
Habitat
Their breeding habitat is close to marshes and lakes with plenty of vegetation to conceal the nest. They are also found on coastal lagoons, shorelines and sheltered ponds.
Food
These birds feed mainly by diving, but they will sometimes upend from the surface.[4] They eat molluscs, aquatic insects and some plants and sometimes feed at night.
Flock of 2000 tufted ducks in Ystad port, 16 January 2016
References
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Aythya fuligula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680391A86013549. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680391A86013549.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 64, 165. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^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. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aythya fuligula.
Wikispecies has information related to Aythya fuligula.
tufted, duck, tufted, duck, tufted, pochard, aythya, fuligula, small, diving, duck, with, population, close, million, birds, found, northern, eurasia, scientific, name, derived, from, ancient, greek, aithuia, unidentified, seabird, mentioned, authors, includin. The tufted duck or tufted pochard Aythya fuligula is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds found in northern Eurasia The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle and Latin fuligo soot and gula throat 2 Tufted duckMale above and female below source source Conservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Near Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Europe Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AnseriformesFamily AnatidaeGenus AythyaSpecies A fuligulaBinomial nameAythya fuligula Linnaeus 1758 Global map of sightings reported to eBird Year Round Range Summer Range Winter RangeSynonymsAnas fuligula Linnaeus 1758 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Habitat 4 Food 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditThe adult male is all black except for white flanks and a blue grey bill with gold yellow eyes along with a thin crest on the back of its head It has an obvious head tuft that gives the species its name The adult female is brown with paler flanks and is more easily confused with other diving ducks In particular some have white around the bill base which resembles the scaup species although the white is never as extensive as in those ducks The females call is a harsh growling karr mostly given in flight The males are mostly silent but they make whistles during courtship based on a simple wit oo The only ducks which are similar are the greater scaup and lesser scaup but these species have no tuft and a different call The tufted duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds AEWA applies Refer to the following table for measurements of the tufted duck 3 Tufted duck measurements Measurement Male FemaleRange of mass 753 1026 2 g 629 906 8 gAverage of mass 889 6 g 768 3 gRange of length 40 6 45 7 cm 40 6 45 7 cmAverage of length 43 2 cm 43 2 cmRange of wingspan 20 2 21 2 cm 19 4 20 7 cmDistribution EditThe tufted duck breeds throughout temperate and northern Eurasia It occasionally can be found as a winter visitor along both coasts of the United States and Canada It is believed to have expanded its traditional range with the increased availability of open water due to gravel extraction and the spread of freshwater mussels a favourite food These ducks are migratory in most of their range and overwinter in the milder south and west of Europe southern Asia and all year in the British Isles One individual has been reported as far south as Melbourne Australia They form large flocks on open water in winter Habitat EditTheir breeding habitat is close to marshes and lakes with plenty of vegetation to conceal the nest They are also found on coastal lagoons shorelines and sheltered ponds Food EditThese birds feed mainly by diving but they will sometimes upend from the surface 4 They eat molluscs aquatic insects and some plants and sometimes feed at night Gallery Edit Adult male Sikkim India Ducklings Immature males Farmoor Reservoir Oxfordshire Male Farmoor Reservoir Oxfordshire Female WWT London Wetland Centre Eggs in the collection of Museum Wiesbaden Male at Jamnagar India Female at Jamnagar India Flock of 2000 tufted ducks in Ystad port 16 January 2016References Edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Aythya fuligula IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22680391A86013549 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22680391A86013549 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm pp 64 165 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 Azzi MayaV Garrison RyanJ Aythya fuligula tufted duck Animal Diversity Web Retrieved 2020 09 25 Ogilvie Malcolm A 1986 Tufted Duck In Lack Peter ed The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland London UK T amp AD Poyser p 110 ISBN 978 1 4081 3828 1 Retrieved 12 August 2014 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aythya fuligula Wikispecies has information related to Aythya fuligula Tufted Ducks video from Gallery of Living Nature BirdLife species factsheet for Aythya fuligula Aythya fuligula Avibase Tufted duck media Internet Bird Collection Tufted duck photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Interactive range map of Aythya fuligula at IUCN Red List maps Audio recordings of Tufted duck on Xeno canto Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tufted duck amp oldid 1109700137, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
