Long-tailed Duck Photo Gallery
Nonbreeding male
Small sea duck with a small bill and very long, slender tail feathers. White head outlines dark face and neck; white plumes cover brown back.
© Kojo Baidoo / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, January 18, 2021Nonbreeding female
Small sea duck with a small bill. Back, wings and breast are brown, contrasting with white head and smudgy brown cheek.
© Tom Auer / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, November 22, 2016Nonbreeding male and immature male
Often found in groups on coastal marine waters and large freshwater lakes during the winter.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew JerseyNot all videos have soundBreeding male
Small sea duck with a small bill and very long tail feathers. Dark head and neck outlines white face patch (reverse of nonbreeding male's pattern).
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, June 13, 2009Nonbreeding male
In flight, note long tail. White collar, dark breast, and white belly are distinctive.
© Brian Stahls / Macaulay LibraryOntario, January 01, 2021Nonbreeding female
Small sea duck with a small bill, all dark wings, and white sides on the rump.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 11, 2017Nonbreeding female
Female lacks the male's long tail. Mostly white face with dark cheek and fairly small, straight bill.
© Samuel Burckhardt / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, December 28, 2016Immature male
Immature males lack the long tail and white back feathers, but have yellow-orange tip to bill like adult males.
© Ilya Povalyaev / Macaulay LibraryWashington, February 29, 2020Female and chick
Females lack the long tail. Brownish overall with white patch around and behind eye, and a white collar.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 2016Nonbreeding male and female
Small sea duck with a small, straight bill. Adult male has long tail; female lacks it.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, March 25, 2011Habitat
In winter usually found in salt water, especially sandy coastlines. Often occurs in flocks.
© Shawn Fitzpatrick / Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, November 26, 2016Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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