The long tail duck, also known as the oldsquaw duck, is a medium-sized diving duck known for its long tail feathers. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the physical characteristics and appearance of the long tail duck.
Quick Facts
Here are some quick facts about the appearance of the long tail duck:
- Medium-sized diving duck with long, pointed tail feathers
- Breeding males have black and white plumage and a pink breast
- Non-breeding males and females are mottled brown
- Bill is blue-gray with a black tip
- Legs and feet are bluish-gray
- Bright white underwings visible in flight
Size and Shape
The long tail duck measures 16-24 inches (40-61 cm) in length from bill to tail. It has a wingspan of 26-29 inches (66-74 cm). Males weigh on average 1.6-2.3 lb (0.7-1.0 kg) while females tend to be slightly smaller at 1.1-2.0 lb (0.5-0.9 kg).
The body shape of the long tail duck is rounded and compact. The tail is long and pointed, making up almost half of the bird’s total length. The neck is thick and the head is rounded. The legs are set far back on the body, providing excellent propulsion for diving underwater.
Plumage
The plumage of the long tail duck shows striking differences between breeding and non-breeding seasons. During the breeding season, males sport flashy black and white plumage with a distinctive pink breast. Females and non-breeding males have more subdued mottled brown plumage. Here is a more detailed look at the plumage:
Breeding Males
- Head, neck, breast, and mantle are black
- Sides, flanks, and belly are white
- Pink breast patch in spring and summer
- Black and white barred back and inner wing feathers
- Long black and white tail feathers
Non-Breeding Males
- Mottled brown overall with darker crown
- Pale grey underparts
- No pink breast patch
- Retains black and white barring on wings
Females
- Mottled brown all over
- Slightly paler underparts
- No pink breast
The striking black and white plumage of the breeding male provides camouflage when swimming among patches of open water and ice. The drab female plumage blends into the surroundings while incubating eggs on the nest.
Bill
The long tail duck has a blue-gray bill with a black tip and black nail. The bill shape is rounded at the tip and tapers towards the base. It has slight serrations along the edges that help grip slippery food items like mollusks and crustaceans. Males and females have identical bill colors and shapes.
Legs and Feet
The legs and feet of the long tail duck are bluish-gray in color. The legs are set far back on the body to provide powerful propulsion for diving. The feet have fully webbed toes to help propel the duck underwater. The webbed feet also act like paddles to steer through the water. The webbed feet do not provide much traction on land, so long tail ducks are awkward when walking on shore.
Wings
The long tail duck has fairly broad, pointed wings. They are black or dark brown on the surface with white undersides. The white underwings are an important identifier when the ducks are flying. The wings produce rapid, stiff beats during flight. Male long tail ducks have black and white barred patterns on their inner wing feathers.
Eyes
Long tail ducks have round, yellow eyes situated on the sides of the head. Their eyes provide monocular vision rather than binocular vision. Having eyes on the sides aids in detecting predators and seeing food items in the water while swimming and diving.
Differences Between Males and Females
There are some key physical differences between male and female long tail ducks:
Males | Females |
---|---|
Larger in size | Smaller in size |
Black and white breeding plumage | Mottled brown plumage year-round |
Bright pink breast in breeding season | No pink breast |
Black and white barring on wings | No barring on wings |
Juveniles and Ducklings
Juvenile long tail ducks resemble adult females but are paler overall. Their underparts are whitish rather than mottled brown. Juveniles gain adult plumage starting in their first fall through spring migration.
Long tail ducklings have an adorable fuzzy appearance with elaborate patterns. They have dark brown heads and necks with a cream-colored cheek patch. Their bodies are blackish with a reddish-brown back and yellow undertail coverts. They have a black bill and feet.
Subspecies
There are two recognized subspecies of long tail ducks:
Clangula hyemalis hyemalis
- Found in Eurasia and Greenland
- Slightly larger with a longer bill and wings
- Breeding males have a reddish rather than pink breast
Clangula hyemalis americana
- Found in North America
- Slightly smaller with a shorter bill and wings
- Breeding males have a pink rather than reddish breast
Conclusion
With its flamboyant plumage and distinctive long tail, the male long tail duck is one of the most easily identifiable waterfowl. Key characteristics include the black and white breeding plumage, bright pink breast, blue-gray bill with black tip, and bluish-gray legs and feet. Females and juveniles are much less colorful with drab mottled brown plumage. Subtle differences exist between the Eurasian and North American subspecies. The elegant plumage and energetic flight make the long tail duck a beautiful bird to observe in the wild.