Ducks, geese, and swans · Waterfowl
Tufted Duck
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Aythya fuligula
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Voice
Call
How to recognize it
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Body length 40–47 cm; stocky shape, short neck
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Adult male in breeding plumage: black plumage and white flanks
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Female: brown plumage and paler flanks
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Prominent drooping crest on male; often dives for food
About the species
A male Tufted Duck has glossy black feathers set off by bright white flanks, with a narrow tuft trailing from the back of its head. Its blue-grey bill has a dark tip, and its eyes are golden yellow. Females are brown, with paler flanks and a less noticeable tuft. The contrast between black and white is strongest in adult males.
It spends much of its time swimming, then dives for food or sometimes tips forward from the surface. Females give a rough, growling "karr", often in flight; males are quieter but whistle "wit-oo" during courtship. It may also feed at night.
Look for it on open lakes, reservoirs and ponds, as well as sheltered coastal waters; in winter it gathers in large flocks on open water. It feeds mainly on molluscs and aquatic insects, along with some plants. Northern populations move south for winter, while Tufted Ducks in the British Isles stay year-round.
Did you know?
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From England to Pakistan
Tufted ducks can swap wintering grounds across continents — one bird ringed in England turned up in Pakistan in a later winter, thousands of kilometres from its previous site.
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Nesting under gull guard
Tufted ducks deliberately nest inside or beside black-headed and common gull colonies, borrowing the gulls' aggression as a shield against predators.
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Where to find
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On large freshwater lakes and reservoirs in winter, look for Tufted Ducks gathering in large flocks on open water.
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Along slow-flowing rivers, watch for repeated dives — that is how they mainly find food.
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During the breeding season, scan the water beside densely vegetated lake shores for ducks with a visible crest.
