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D & D Wildlife Photography
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The Tufted Duck is an Old World species, a regular visitor to Alaska and rarely, down the West Coast to Southern California where it can be found on ponds, rivers, and bays, often in company with Ring-necked Ducks. The bird photographed here is only the second seen in Santa Cruz County, and the first known to over-winter here.The Tufted Duck has a rounded head with a crest, distinct in males, smaller in females. Gleaming white sides further distinguish the Tufted Duck from Ring-necked Ducks. Both male and female have bills with a wide black tip.
Tufted ducks dive to feed on roots, seeds, and buds of aquatic plants and clams, snails, aquatic insects, and sometimes amphibians and small fishes. They also skim flies and duckweed on the water surface.
Female Tufted Ducks nest on islands in lakes or on sloped banks of small wetlands in reeds, tufts of grass, or under bushes close to water and lay an average of nine greenish-grey eggs.
Length: 16 to 18 inches
Habitat: Open fresh water with reeds or other cover. Ponds, quiet stretches of rivers, and bays.
Voice: The usual note is a growling "kurr kurr" uttered in flight. Males have a musical whistling.
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