Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Status: Winter visitor - it is likely that a substantial proportion of the birds that occur in Ireland and Britain come from the population breeding in Greenland/Iceland.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population has been assessed as Secure.
Identification: Small brown, black and white duck, with rounded head and short stubby bill. Central tail feathers of male elongated. Complex plumages, but in winter, males with white upper mantle, scapulars, head and neck. Sides of lower part of the head with a dark patch (autumn) and pale grey-brown with chestnut lower rim at the base of the black patch (winter). Bill mostly dull grey (winter) or black with pink patch (late winter). Females with no elongated tail feathers, colours duller, narrower patches on side of head, which are less distinct in winter.
Call: Male with far-carrying nasal yodel 'ow ow-owdelee, ow-owdelee'.
Diet: During the breeding season, they feed on a variety of animal and occasionally plant life. Their winter diet differs considerably, and consists, predominantly of molluscs and crustaceans, including cockles, shrimps and crabs, and also small fish and very occasionally grain from distillery outfalls.
Breeding: Long-tailed Ducks nest on open tundra pools, hill lakes and rivers, all with little cover. They also breed near the sea, and occasionally in rocky fjord country.
Wintering: Seem to prefer offshore waters adjacent to rocky coastline.
Where to See: Lough Foyle in County Derry, Gweebarra Bay in County Donegal, Inishfree Bay in County Donegal, Belfast Lough in County Antrim and Drumcliff Bay Estuary in County Sligo are among the best wintering sites (up to 90 birds).
Mohosin Ali Angur
Sabdar Ali Market, Boro Bazar, Main Road, Meherpur, Bangladesh. Mobile: 01558-406298, E-mail: editor@mujibnagarkhabor.com
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