Species profile
Name: the tufted duck or tufted pochard (Aythya fuligula) is a small diving duck found in northern Eurasia.
Appearance: males are black and white with golden-yellow eyes and a distinctive slicked back tufted hairstyle. Females are brown and can be confused with other duck species.
Size: they weigh up to 1 kg and reach up to 45 cm long with a wingspan of up to 21 cm.
Diet: tufted ducks feed by diving underneath the water to catch molluscs, insects, and aquatic plants.
Did you know: tufted ducks have expanded beyond their native range thanks to the increased availability of open water on gravel extraction sites, as well as the spread of their favourite food, the freshwater mussel. They can be found in the UK, south and west Europe, and southern Asia. However, individuals have been reported in the US and Canada, and even as far south as Melbourne in Australia.
Location: they breed in wetlands, lakes, and reservoirs throughout temperate and northern Eurasia.
Where to see tufted ducks
According to reports submitted to WildSide, you can see tufted ducks in the following places:
| Place | Chance to see | User rating | No. reports |
| London Wetland Centre England |
100% very high |
4.3 very good |
3 reports |
Photo credit: Emphyrio under a Creative Commons licence from Pixabay