ID Keys: Extremely long tail on male. Plumages very different in
summer and winter, but both with a short black bill with pinkish
ring near the tip.
TThe Long-tailed Duck is a distinctive Arctic sea duck known for the male's long, elegant central tail feathers and striking seasonal plumage changes. It breeds on Arctic tundra lakes and wetlands across North America, Europe, and Asia and winters primarily in coastal marine waters. Unlike most ducks, it dives to considerable depths to feed on mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and small fish. Long-tailed Ducks are highly vocal, especially during the breeding season and winter, producing a variety of musical yodeling calls. Although primarily a coastal species in winter, it occasionally occurs on large inland lakes and reservoirs during migration and cold-weather movements.
Habitat
In
breeding season, they are found on low-lying tundra, barren ground in and around
the treeline in the Arctic, other areas with open water nearby. In
migration and winter, they are primarily found on the ocean, and also some on
the Great Lakes and other large inland fresh water bodies.
Diet
Primarily feeds on
mollusks and crustaceans at sea, as well as a few small fish. In summer
breeding season, feeds heavily on aquatic insects, as well as crustaceans,
mollusks, fish and amphibian eggs, and plant material.
Behavior
The Long-tailed Duck is an exceptional diver that regularly plunges deep beneath the surface to capture aquatic invertebrates and small fish. It is highly social outside the breeding season, often gathering in large flocks on coastal waters where birds are constantly diving, surfacing, and calling to one another.
Breeding
Non-breeder in South Dakota. The Long-tailed Duck nests on Arctic tundra near ponds, lakes, and wetlands, usually placing the nest in low vegetation close to water. The female builds a shallow depression lined with grasses, mosses, and soft down feathers that provide insulation in the cold northern environment. Typical clutches contain 5–8 eggs, and the female alone incubates the eggs and cares for the ducklings after hatching.
Song
The Long-tailed Duck is one of the most vocal ducks in North America, especially during winter and the breeding season. Males give distinctive musical yodeling calls often rendered as ow-ow-owdle-ow while both sexes produce a variety of melodious whistles, coos, and chatter-like notes.
Migration
The Long-tailed Duck breeds across Arctic tundra regions of North America, Greenland, Europe, and Asia, then migrates south to winter primarily on coastal marine waters. Large wintering concentrations occur along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the Great Lakes, and other large bodies of open water, where birds often remain far offshore. During migration, smaller numbers may appear on inland lakes and reservoirs across the northern and central United States.
Due to long
tail length, superficially similar to Northern
Pintail. However, the species is generally
distinctive.
Conservation Status
The Long-tailed Duck has experienced significant population declines in parts of its range and is considered a species of conservation concern in some regions, although it remains widespread across the Arctic. Major threats include oil spills, entanglement in fishing gear, climate change affecting Arctic breeding habitats and marine ecosystems, and contamination from pollutants that accumulate in northern food webs. Continued monitoring and protection of both Arctic breeding areas and coastal wintering habitats are important for the species' long-term conservation. The IUCN considers the Long-tailed Duck to be a "vulnerable" species.
South Dakota "Hotspot"
As they're only rare
visitors to the state, there's no real "hotspot", but the majority of
sightings have been along the Missouri River, especially below the major
reservoir dams.
Photo Information
November 11th, 2003 -- Lake Yankton below Gavin's Point Dam -- Terry L. Sohl
