Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 04 - Water Birds of Western NY
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis, drake, diver, medium size seaduck
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
++++++++++++++++
Formerly known as Oldsquaw, the Long-tailed Duck breeds in the Arctic and winters along both coasts of North America. It is distinctive among ducks in plumage, molt sequences, foraging behavior, and vocalizations. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-tailed_Duck/id
A duck of cold northern waters. Often the most abundant bird in the high Arctic. Large flocks are often far out at sea; many spend the winter on such northern waters as Bering Sea, Hudson Bay, and Great Lakes. Flocks fly low over sea, with stiff shallow wingbeats, often tilting from side to side. Far more vocal than most ducks, and loud melodious calls of flocks can be heard from some distance. It was formerly called "Oldsquaw," not politically correct by any measure, a reference to this "talkative" behavior -- although it is the male of this species that makes most of the noise.
Feeding Behavior
forages by diving and swimming underwater, with wings partly opened but propelled mainly by feet. Most feeding is within 30' of surface; supposedly able to dive more than 200', deeper than any other duck.
image by Photo George
copyrighted: ©2014 GCheatle
All Rights Reserved
locator: DSC_5491
Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) 04 - Water Birds of Western NY
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis, drake, diver, medium size seaduck
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
++++++++++++++++
Formerly known as Oldsquaw, the Long-tailed Duck breeds in the Arctic and winters along both coasts of North America. It is distinctive among ducks in plumage, molt sequences, foraging behavior, and vocalizations. www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Long-tailed_Duck/id
A duck of cold northern waters. Often the most abundant bird in the high Arctic. Large flocks are often far out at sea; many spend the winter on such northern waters as Bering Sea, Hudson Bay, and Great Lakes. Flocks fly low over sea, with stiff shallow wingbeats, often tilting from side to side. Far more vocal than most ducks, and loud melodious calls of flocks can be heard from some distance. It was formerly called "Oldsquaw," not politically correct by any measure, a reference to this "talkative" behavior -- although it is the male of this species that makes most of the noise.
Feeding Behavior
forages by diving and swimming underwater, with wings partly opened but propelled mainly by feet. Most feeding is within 30' of surface; supposedly able to dive more than 200', deeper than any other duck.
image by Photo George
copyrighted: ©2014 GCheatle
All Rights Reserved
locator: DSC_5491