Tufted duck

Aythya fuligula
Ducks and geese (Anatidae)

♂ + ♀

CC-BY 2.0 rights : Frank Vassen

Dark round head with yellow eyes and a small tuft on the rear head. The adult ♂ has a black head appearing purple in specific lighting. The back and breast are black with belly and flanks white. The ♀ is brown with a yellow eye and sometimes a white beak base, the tuft is smaller. The young look initially like the ♀. Both sexes have a white line on the dark wings visible in flight. 

Dives below surface looking for water plants and small invertebrate water life. When surfacing the tuft is easy to miss since it can be stuck to the head. 

⇔ l. 40-47 cm

Partly migratory breeding in Asia, north and central Europe down to northern France. Wintering south of central Europe and North Africa.

LA:
≈ The AYTHYA FERINA (Pochard) ♂ has a rust red head with red eyes. 
≈ The AYTHYA MARILA (Greater scaup) ♂ has a dark green head and light grey belly.

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