Duck - Tufted

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Alternative Name

Scientific Name: Aythya aythya fuligula

Basic Info

Though named the "Tufted Duck" only the male has a true tuft. The female's tuft looks more like the start of a tuft that was never completely finished. Males and females also exhibit different coloration. Males are black with white sides. Females are brown with smaller pale markings on their sides, though they are not white like the sides of the male. Tufted Ducks have yellow eyes and grey beaks. Males tend to be a littler larger than females on average. The mature male will weigh an average 1.68 pounds, while the mature female will average 1.57 pounds. The Tufted Duck averages 16 to 18 inches at maturity.

Health

Breeding Although the Tufted Duck is not usually bred in captivity, much of their breeding behavior in the wild has been documented. This species breeds across Eurasia, and while they may occasionally travel through North America in their migratory paths, they have never been recorded breeding there. The preferred habitat for breeding is along lakes and slow moving rivers.

Habitat

N/A

Behavior

The Tufted Duck is a Eurasian duck that is commonly seen diving into lakes and ponds across its range. Tufted Ducks are not common in captivity, but they are favorites among bird watchers and duck lovers. Tufted Ducks usually dive as far as 3 to 4 meters to obtain food.

Origin

Europe and Asia

History

The Tufted Duck is a Eurasian Duck and is common from Iceland through Europe. There are large populations in Western Europe as well as Eastern Europe. The largest breeding populations, nearing a million ducks, occurs in Russia, while the second largest, numbering well over half a million occurs in Great Britain. Some Tufted Ducks migrate, and those that do are seen moving through North America southward. They have been sighted on both the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of North America, though they are still considered a rare and exotic duck in that part of the world. Some Tufted Ducks do not migrate widely and are often seeing wintering along large bodies of inland water such as lakes and estuaries. Tufted ducks are known as Kuifeend in German and Kinkuro Hajiro in Japanese.

Common Foods

These active ducks dive to feed on aquatic plants and fish. They will also feed on surface insects and weeds.