Species:

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)

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Length (cm):
40-47
47-63
Wingspan (cm):
67-73
86-102
Weight (gram):
500-1000
1500-2000
Size group:
Crow-size
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Small, compact diving duck with short neck and rounded head. Males with diagnostic tuft, white flanks and black back. Females with rudimentary tuft, mostly dark brown body, with varying white feathering at base of bill. Females in winter showing much white at base of bill are easily mistaken for Scaup, but note hint of small tuft, smaller head, broad black nail of bill and no white cheek spots. Both sexes show long, white wing stripes in flight.

Sound:

Male display sound: High pitched short whistling-like noises, "pjuu-uu", not very audible. Both sexes have harsh "ahrrrr" calls like other diving ducks, sometimes with a crow-like quality.

Female:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Appearance:

Slightly smaller than Eider. Male at close range unmistakable. At a distance the black back is diagnostic. Female similar to female Eider, but feathering on bill is not reaching nostrils, giving the bird a peculiar "smile". Head shape is less triangular with a steeper forehead, and nail of bill is black. V-shaped barring on flanks.

Sound:

Male: Calls similar to Eider but easily distinguished by the vibrating quality. A "aaaooooooh" (shorter in duration than Eider) Starting on a low note, slowly ascending and ending on a descending note with a distinct vibrato/pulse. Often in the form of three calls: "oohh, a-ohhh hahahaoohohohoh". Usually accompanied by the female "ga ga ga ga".

Display-calls:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Andrew Spencer,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species