Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) lives in arctic tundra across North America, Eurasia. It feeds on mollusks & crustaceans. Its conservation status is Vulnerable.
Fascinating facts about the Long-Tailed Duck
- The long-tailed duck is the sole representative of the genus Clangula, a taxonomic group created especially for it in 1819. The genus name is a diminutive of the Latin *clangere*, meaning "to resound", and no subspecies are recognised, making the species monotypic. This unique status reflects its distinct evolutionary lineage, as it was originally placed with other ducks by Linnaeus but later re-assigned to its own genus.
- Male long-tailed ducks are distinguished by a strikingly long, pointed tail that measures between 10 and 15 cm. In addition to the tail, the male displays a dark grey bill crossed by a pink band and, in winter, a dark cheek patch on an otherwise white head and neck. Females, by contrast, have a relatively short pointed tail and a brown back, with seasonal changes to their head colouration.
- When hunting for molluscs, crustaceans and small fish, long-tailed ducks can dive to depths of 60 m. They can occasionally dive to 80 fathoms (150 m) and use their wings to propel themselves underwater.
- During the winter months the long-tailed duck gathers in massive numbers on the Baltic Sea, the species' most important wintering area, where about 4.5 million individuals assemble. These birds are migratory, travelling to coastal waters of North America, the Great Lakes and northern Europe and Asia before reaching the Baltic. They are highly gregarious, forming large flocks that concentrate in this region.
- Male long-tailed ducks are notably vocal, producing a musical yodelling call rendered as "ow, ow, owal-ow". This distinctive sound can be heard when the birds gather in their large winter and migration flocks.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorth America, Eurasia
HabitatArctic tundra
DietMollusks & crustaceans
About the Long-Tailed Duck
As the icy waters of the Arctic lap against the frozen tundra, the long-tailed duck glides effortlessly, its sleek, black-and-white form weaving through the choppy waves with a mesmerizing fluidity. With each stroke of its powerful wings, it propels itself forward, the long, slender tail feathers that give it its name streaming behind like a banner, a testament to its remarkable agility and endurance. In this harsh, yet breathtakingly beautiful landscape, the long-tailed duck is a master of survival, its very existence a poignant reminder of the fragility and wonder of the natural world.
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