Fauna Flora Photography

Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis

A beautiful sea duck, breeding in the tundra and wintering along the northern coastlines of the Atlantic. Feeds on mollusks, crustaceans and some small fishes.

Specs

Length46-51cm
Weight0.45-0.9kg
Wingspan68-76cm

Common Names

GermanEisente
EnglishLong-tailed Duck
FrenchHarelde kakawi
SpanishPato havelda

Taxonomy

OrderAnseriformes
FamilyAnatidae
SpeciesClangula hyemalis

How to Identify

Male display a distinctive white and black pattern and have a long tail. Beak is black with an orange ring around in the middle. Females have a brownish body and gray head with dark gray patches. The beak of a female is black.

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) - Tadoussac - 2018-05-23

Where and When to Spot

Observed in large flocks in the St. Lawrence river during migration.

Last updated on 2024-03-14. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.