Tufted duck

Latin Aythya fuligula (L.)
Estonian Tuttvart

Also known as: tufted pochard

Status in Estonia

Breeding, migratory and an uncommon wintering bird.

Description

The tufted duck is a diving duck with a short stocky body, a thin neck and a rather large head and nape. The beak is short but wide and blue-grey, with a black tip. A white wing streak is visible in flight. The male’s definitive plumage includes black plumage, yellow eyes, white sides and a long hanging black tuft on the nape. The female bird is brownish with paler sides and scattered dark spots. The male bird in eclipse plumage has a short tuft on the nape, dull brown sides and areas that are black in definitive plumage are brown-tinged. The juvenile looks similar to the female, but its head is a slightly lighter brown, with small cream-coloured feathers near the base of the beak.

Size

Body length 40–47 cm, wingspan 65–72 cm, body mass 550–820 g.

Similar species

Greater scaup.

Distribution

Widespread throughout the Northern Palearctic from Iceland to Kamchatka, the range in the south extends to Central Europe and Northern Mongolia as well as the Japanese island of Hokkaido, which marks the area’s northern boundary to the Arctic Circle. Partly a migratory bird, it winters primarily in Central and Western Europe. The tufted duck is one of the most common diving ducks in Estonia, particularly in Western Estonia’s islands, Northern Estonia’s coastal areas and the Emajõe river system.

Population

Estonia has 3000–5000 breeding pairs.

Occurrence in Estonia

The tufted duck arrives in the first half of April and in May, there is a massive migration of northern populations. Autumn migration occurs from September to October, with the last individuals seen in the first half of November. During milder winters, 3000–5000 tufted ducks winter in Estonia’s coastal waters.

Diet

It feeds on the delicate parts of water plants, invertebrates and their larvae.

Habitat

The tufted duck lives on sea islands and along the coast, in large and small lakes, river banks, fish ponds and raised bog ponds.

Nesting

It frequently nests in large numbers, often in a black-headed gull colony, to reduce the risk of being eaten by a predator or bird of prey. The nest is built on the ground in grass and lined with thick dried or fresh grass and its own down feathers. In the first half of June, 7–12 whitish-olive-brown eggs are laid there. The first chicks hatch at the end of June and the male birds fly to the sea together to moult. They often seek out common pochards to make their flock bigger. Chicks become capable of flight in mid-August.

Conservation status and protection

Not under protection. Because of the slow development of their flying abilities, the tufted duck’s young face several natural enemies, including mustelids and falcons. The tufted duck is gamebird.

Distribution and population in Lääne County

The tufted duck is a common breeding and migratory bird in Lääne County. Tufted ducks can be observed in Matsalu and Haapsalu bays as well as the Sutlepa Sea. The most common sightings of these birds occur between April and September.

Tufted ducks nest in reed beds and on small sea islands.