by Caroline Kaiser

Created on: May 08, 2008   Last Updated: May 09, 2008

Should you ever be standing around shivering on the shores of the Great Lakes in late winter, take a moment to notice the rafts of ducks bobbing along the frigid waves. If you look through binoculars, you'll likely spy an array of species, including Common Goldeneyes, Redheads, Greater Scaups and Red-breasted Mergansers. Floating among these is perhaps the most abundant Great Lakes wintertime duck, the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis).

This species doesn't need colour to attract attention. Long-tailed Ducks are primarily piebald: they're elegantly clad in black, white and grey. If you encounter these ducks in the winter, you'll see a predominantly white bird. Males are white except for grey and black facial patches and a black breast and back. Only males have the long, curving tail that brings the total length of this species to 22 inches. Females are less visually striking; they're white with muted grey markings, including a triangular cheek patch. Immature males resemble females in appearance.

The winter range of the Long-tailed Duck comprises not only the Great Lakes, but also the eastern and western coastal waters of Canada and the US. In Europe, you'll find Long-tailed Ducks wintering in the Baltic and North Seas and off the coasts of Britain, Iceland and Norway. During the breeding season, this species resides in the extreme northern latitudes of the Arctic - Canada, Alaska and Greenland. Their summer range also includes all the Scandinavian countries, Scotland and Russia.

During the breeding season, chameleon-like Long-tailed Ducks undergo a startling change in their appearance. They look like an entirely different species from their white winter selves, with both sexes sporting predominantly dark plumage. Field marks include a black head and chest, and a streaky brown and black back and tail. Both sexes retain the white flanks they had in winter. Facial markings (in addition to the male's long tail) help distinguish the sexes: females have more white on the face and neck than males.

Breeding begins with courtship displays featuring dramatic aerial and aquatic elements. Males work hard to dazzle the opposite sex by flying around before plunging abruptly into the water. Females nest discreetly among vegetation on tundra pools, incubating six or seven eggs for a period of about 25 days. The resulting precocial young grow up in a hurry; they need to, since they have just two frost-free months during which to mature. Typically, they are fully fledged a mere 35 days after hatching.

Long-tailed Ducks are a delight to observe. If you're fortunate, you'll witness the spectacle of a group of these ducks in flight. They move at breakneck speed and fly low over the water before splashing down unexpectedly among their kin. Long-tailed Ducks are highly gregarious birds that congregate in big, incredibly noisy flocks. En masse, a chorus of males will emit endless high-pitched, squawky, hiccuping yodels.

It is believed that this distinctive call inspired the bird's former North American name, the Oldsquaw. Recently, this politically incorrect name was phased out and replaced with the more acceptable moniker already used in Europe: the Long-tailed Duck. Call them what you will - these birds are among the most strikingly beautiful waterfowl in the world.

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