Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula

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Identification

Field notes

38-45 cm (15-18") Rare. Eurasian species that strays to North America. Lakes, bays, ponds, rivers. Small diving duck.

Male: black head, neck, breast and back; brilliant white sides; a crest or tuft may be visible on back of rounded head; gray bill with dark tip. Similar male Ring-necked Duck has no crest, a more pointed head, duller sides, and a distinct white ring around bill.

Female: brown head, neck, breast; blackish-brown back; a crest or tuft may be visible on back of rounded head; gray bill with dark tip. Similar female Ring-necked Duck has no crest, a more pointed head, duller sides, and a distinct white ring around bill.

In flight: broad white wing stripe.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

2 photos

Credit: Sergey Yeliseev

Credit: nottsexminer

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Tufted Ducks

Credit: VideoWildLife

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Tufted Duck (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 1

What colour was the SIDE ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:749-tufted-duck-female:1:1 Source: 749 Tufted Duck (Female), row 1

Tufted Duck (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 1

What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Crest of feathers on top of the head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:748-tufted-duck-male:1:1 Source: 748 Tufted Duck (Male), row 1