BIRD 4
Slightly more subtle than Bird 3, here is a bird captured mid-dive, with most of its body already under the water. Indeed all we are left with above the water is the tail end of the body and the tips of the wings, seemingly opened as if to power the bird (‘ fly’) under the water. Most striking of all are the central tail feathers which droop down, protruding a considerable distance beyond the rest of the tail. This is a big clue in itself as there are very few diving birds with such a long tail (and it rules out birds such as auks). Plumage-wise, what we can see of the wings are blackish (or very dark brown) and the rear body seems white with a black back and black-and-white tail. To cut to the chase, the very long tail projections and black-and-white plumage point to this being a male Long-tailed Duck.
Key features
■ Black-and-white plumage
■ Outrageously long tail feathers
■ Wings spread in diving
■ Black-and-white tail