Long-tailed Duck

Description: The long-tailed duck can be hard to identify, as it has four different plumages depending upon the season. Drakes have tail feathers as long as those of the pintail, which can be seen while in flight and may be submerged while swimming. During the winter, the drake is largely white with gray shoulders, a dark brown back, and a large tan facial patch with a large dark brown splotch toward the back of the neck. It has a black bill with a pink band, and its tail is dark brown. Duller than the drake, the hen is light mottled brown with a brown crown, a white belly, a gray bill, and a white face with light brown patches under the eye. Both drakes and hens have gray legs and feet. The drake is significantly larger than the hen. Average size: 15-23 inches. Average weight: 1 ½-2 ½ pounds.

Science: Long-tailed ducks breed across northern Alaska and the Arctic, as well as around the Hudson Bay, preferring tundra near lakes or ponds and rocky coast lines. Their migration begins in September in large groups which usually fly at night, wintering along the Pacific coast from Alaska to northern California, around the Great Lakes, on the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada, and on parts of the Gulf Coast. They spend most of the winter at sea or on large coastal lakes, where they form large rafts. One of the most vocal of all ducks, their call involves yodeling, clucking, and growling. Their population is stable; they rank among the world’s most numerous ducks.

Hunting: Long-tailed ducks are hunted using traditional sea duck techniques. The drake is sought after by collectors. The eating quality is poor.