3 LONG-TAILED DUCK

The tiddly Long-tailed Duck is one of our prettiest ducks (and there is some pretty stiff competition!). At this time of winter, all our drakes of any species are looking at their finest (with the grubby ‘eclipse’ plumage of summer a distant memory), but Long-tailed Ducks are unusual in having a distinct winter plumage (see bird featured above). And it just so happens that this frosty white non-breeding plumage is more pleasing on the eye than the browner breeding plumage. Though small, they are truly striking, not least because of the narrow tail which gives them their name, and extends for several inches beyond the rest of the bird. Females are, needless to say, less pleasing on the human eye, but still distinctively marked little birds.

Long-tailed Ducks are largely birds of the sea, seen around much of the coast ( particularly off northern Scotland) though strays do turn up inland.