All About Long-Tailed Duck - Before You Start Keeping Ducks

Long-tailed ducks are mid-sized sea ducks; they
have a more tapered body than do most sea ducks
and a short neck and short bill. Males are 40-53
cm long, not counting the long tail; females are
38-43 cm. An adult weighs 715-1000 grams. 
When it is foraging it is submerged three to
four times as much as it is on top of the
water.  If you are considering which
duck to choose when keeping ducks, the
Long-tailed Duck spends the most time under
water relative to time on the surface. Unlike
most ducks, which molt twice per year, the
Long-tailed ducks has three distinct plumages
each year, achieved in a complex series of
overlapping partial molts.

Long-tailed ducks have the most complex molt of
any species of waterfowl with three different
plumages during the year. Both the male and
female have distinctly different breeding and
winter plumages, but only the male has, as its
name implies, two slim and elongated central
tail feathers. From October through March, the
male's basic plumage is about equally black and
white. It has a pink band around its dark bill
that is more prominent in winter.

By April, the breeding plumage emerges and the
male becomes mostly black-brown with a large
white/gray cheek patch and white flanks and
belly. As summer progresses, its head and neck
become whiter and its flanks a darker gray.
Plumage of females, like males although less
pronounced, is predominantly white in the fall
and winter and brown in the spring and early
summer. Light areas on the head and neck are
more extensive during the winter months. Both
males and females have unpatterned dark wings.

Long-tailed ducks are the most vocal sea duck,
with a melodious yodeling by males that
resembles ow ow owoolett. Until recently, this
sea duck was known as the Oldsquaw in North
America. Its name was officially changed to be
consistent with the European common name.

Long-tailed ducks spend most of the year
(approximately nine months) primarily in coastal
marine waters. Only during the breeding season
does it frequent shallow wetlands of low-lying
tundra, ranging southward to the northern edge
of the boreal forest. Non-breeding and molting
birds tend to use deeper ponds and lakes and
near shore marine areas. The Long-tailed duck is
one of the deepest diving ducks, and can dive as
deep as 60 meters (200 feet) to forage.
Populations appear to be declining, but numbers
difficult to census because of offshore
wintering areas.

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Are you researching for more tips on raising
ducks? If you would like to learn more about
long-tail ducks and how to raise ducks
correctly, please visit:
http://www.howtoraiseducks.com

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