ML570723831

Age and sex

Adult Male - 1

Observation details

Adult male in fine plumage found by Neil Gilbert. Serendipitously, we were on Park Point when Neil sent out an alert via text and we arrived within 11 minutes. The Tufted Duck was loosely associating with a small flock of scaup and white-winged Scoters west of the sailing club. It was feeding but spent more time on the surface than it did underwater. When diving, it leaped forward into the water to gain momentum for the dive. We watched and took some digiscoped images, but when I tried to take a video through my scope at 0917, I couldn’t find the bird. We searched the area in vain for the next 20 minutes and eventually concluded that the Tufted Duck had flown away while the rest of the ducks remained in place. DESCRIPTION ENTERED INTO EBIRD MOBILE APP WITHIN TWO HOURS OF THE SIGHTING: Diving duck similar in size and shape to adjacent male Greater Scaup. Easily distinguished from male Greater Scaup by its fully formed black tuft and jet black back. Spatulate bill bluish with narrow band of white near tip and black nail. Irides yellow. Legs and feet were never seen so there was no opportunity to look for bands or inspect the halluces. Entire head black with obvious black tuft estimated to be at least 7.5 cm long. Back and scapulars black with no evidence of mottling or markings of any kind. Folded wings and visible portion of tail black. Breast black. Flanks gleaming white. Crissum black. Not seen in flight and did not interact or display towards the scaup. No vocalizations heard. Observed for 6 minutes through Swarovski 85mm spotting scope at estimated distance of 200 m under overcast skies, looking west.

Technical information

Dimensions

2047 pixels x 1535 pixels

Original file size

1.46 MB