Facts about Tufted Duck
- 09
Across wintering grounds in western Europe, Tufted Duck populations show strong site fidelity with individual birds returning to the same lakes year after year, tracked through color-banding studies.
- 08
Omnivorous compared to many diving ducks, Tufted Ducks consume up to 60 percent plant matter including seeds and aquatic vegetation alongside animal prey throughout their annual cycle.
- 07
Tufted Duck vocalizations include distinctive whistling calls from males and grating quacks from females, with males producing sharp burping sounds during courtship interactions with potential mates.
- 06
In winter, Tufted Duck flocks on European lakes can exceed 10,000 individuals, making them among the most numerous diving ducks in temperate regions during the non-breeding season.
- 05
Female Tufted Ducks lay clutches of 8 to 11 eggs in ground nests near water, with incubation lasting approximately 23 to 25 days before ducklings hatch.
- 04
The distinctive head tuft of male Tufted Ducks becomes more prominent during winter courtship displays, with feathers extending up to 4 centimeters in length.
- 03
Approximately 200,000 pairs of Tufted Ducks breed across northern Eurasia, with significant populations established in the Netherlands, Poland, and Russia since the species expanded its range northward during the twentieth century.
- 02
During spring migration, Tufted Duck populations in northern Europe can increase by over 500,000 individuals as birds breed across Scandinavia and Russia.
- 01
Males of the Tufted Duck can dive to depths exceeding 14 meters while foraging for aquatic invertebrates and plant material on freshwater lake beds.