Long-tailed Duck Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Steller's Eider
Male
Male Steller's Eiders have a buffy (not black) breast and a longer tail than Long-tailed Ducks.
© Mitch Walters | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 23, 2016Similar Species
Steller's Eider
Male and female
Female Steller's Eiders have less white on the face than female Long-tailed Ducks and they have dark (not white) rear ends. Males have buffier bellies than male Steller's Eiders.
© Andrew Spencer | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 16, 2014Similar Species
Harlequin Duck
Breeding male and female
Male Harlequin Ducks have a dark gray (not buffy) belly and a chestnut patch on the side that male Steller's lack. Female Harlequin Ducks have 2 white spots on the face that female Steller's lack.
© Cos van Wermeskerken | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 15, 2017Similar Species
Northern Pintail
Breeding male
Male Northern Pintails have a brown head, not white like Long-tailed Ducks and gray, not buffy sides.
© Paul Hueber | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 01, 2013Similar Species
Northern Pintail
Female
Female Northern Pintails are paler overall than female Steller's Eiders. Females don't have white patches on the face like female Steller's Eiders.
© Ryan Schain | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 26, 2014Main Species
Long-tailed Duck
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 sound
Breeding 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, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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