Bird of the Week: Long Tailed Duck

Female Long-tailed Duck in winter plumage. Photo by Wikimedia Commons

Mallard male & Long-tailed female in winter

Not a common duck to see in mid-Michigan, the Long-tailed Duck winters on the edges of the Great Lakes from late October to April. They prefer to spend most of their time in deep waters and can dive 200 feet to feed on fish or plants. They breed in the Arctic Tundra.

Formerly known as Oldsquaw, these ducks are one to the noisiest breeders but go quiet during migration and over the winter. Their coloring does a complete turn around too, as the seasons change. Their spring breeding plumage is mostly dark with white highlights, while their winter plumage is mostly white with dark patches.

Learn more about Long-tailed Ducks on All About Birds: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/long-tailed_duck/id

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