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Long-tailed Duck

Clangula hyemalis

Not yet photographed by the community

Winter sea duck; elaborate long tail on male; yodelling call.

Species Profile

Amber List (UK) – populations vulnerable to climate change and oil pollution; listed as Least Concern globally

Lifespan: 15–20 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 40–47 cm, wingspan 64–79 cm; 340–580 g
Habitat: Winters on coastal waters, estuaries, and large inland lakes; breeds on Arctic tundra and subarctic freshwater pools.
UK Distribution: Winter visitor to UK coasts, primarily September to April, with largest concentrations off northern and eastern coasts including Scotland, northern England, and the North Sea.
Diet: Primarily diving ducks that feed on aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and molluscs obtained by deep diving.
Prey: Amphipods, isopods, small fish, mussels, and other benthic invertebrates
Predators: Great Black-backed Gulls, Merlins, White-tailed Eagles, and occasionally Pike in freshwater habitats
Mating Season: May to June
Breeding: Clutch of 5–9 eggs, incubation period 24–29 days, single brood per season; females undertake sole incubation and chick-rearing
Behaviour: Highly gregarious in winter, forming large rafts on open water. Males perform elaborate diving displays during courtship. Known for exceptional diving ability, reaching depths of 20+ metres to forage.

Did You Know?

•The only duck species where males moult into a distinct eclipse plumage and then moult again into breeding plumage—a unique three-plumage cycle
•Can remain submerged for up to 60 seconds while diving for food
•Males produce a distinctive yodelling call that gives the species its alternative name, 'Oldsquaw' in North America
•Winter populations in UK number approximately 50,000–70,000 birds, making it a significant winter seabird
•Highly susceptible to oil pollution and marine debris; several mass mortality events have occurred in UK waters

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