Aythya fuligula
The Tufted Duck, *Aythya fuligula*, is a medium-sized diving duck immediately recognizable by the striking crest adorning the back of its head. Males are particularly distinctive, boasting glossy black plumage over their head, neck, back, and breast, contrasting sharply with pure white flanks and a bright yellow eye. They measure approximately 40-47 cm (16-19 in) in length, have a wingspan of 67-73 cm (26-29 in), and weigh between 550-900 g (1.2-2.0 lbs). Females are a duller brown, often wit...
Prefers still or slow-moving freshwater wetlands, including lakes, ponds, reservoirs, gravel pits, and slow rivers, often with abundant submerged vegetation or mollusc beds; also found in coastal lagoons and estuaries during winter.
Primarily consumes aquatic invertebrates, especially molluscs (mussels, snails) and insect larvae, supplemented by some aquatic vegetation like pondweeds and seeds; foraging is done almost exclusively by diving.
Tufted Ducks are primarily diurnal, spending much of their day diving for food, often in relatively shallow waters but capable of considerable depths. They are highly gregarious outside the breeding season, forming large rafts on open water, sometimes numbering in the thousands. During courtship,...
The Tufted Duck exhibits a vast Palearctic breeding range, extending across Eurasia from Iceland and the UK in the west, through Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, and Russia, reaching as far east as the Russian Far East, Mongolia, and northern China. Breeding typically occurs in temperate and boreal z...
Least Concern
- The Tufted Duck's scientific name, *fuligula*, comes from Latin "fuligo" (soot) and "gula" (throat), referring to its dark plumage. - They are impressive divers, capable of reaching depths of 3-10 meters (10-33 feet) and staying submerged for 15-20 seconds. - Females sometimes lay their eggs in...