Tufted Ducks

Tufted Duck Variations

Here are six Tufted Duck photos from my teaching collection illustrating variation in tuft length and appearance. All were taken in winter in the San Francisco Bay Area. Photos and text © 1998. All rights reserved.

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Tufted Duck at Spreckles Lake March 1993, Spreckles Lake, Golden Gate Park. Long tuft present but hard to see in the photo. This bird had a thin "tassel" which was often pressed against the nape.

Tufted Duck at Sutro Baths Adult male Tufted Duck at the Old Sutro Baths, San Francisco, January 1989. Like the Spreckles Lake bird, the tuft was thin and often difficult to see. Note decided purplish sheen on head, typical of Tufted Ducks seen in California. I have only seen one Tufted Duck here which showed an extensively green sheen and it was a hybrid with a Ring-necked Duck! This sheen is iridescent and varies depending on light and individual variation. Note also the decidedly round, not flattened crown. This is also typical of Tufted Ducks I see in California.

Pair of Tufted Ducks at Sutro Baths Same bird as above with female. Tuft length is easier to assess here. I have found tuft length to by highly variable. Some birds have tufts that actually touch the upper back. I have also seen individuals start out with a long tuft and later in the season show a shorter one, probably caused by breakage or wear.

Pair of Tufted Ducks at Lake Merritt Pair of Tufted Ducks at Lake Merritt, Oakland. Midwinter 1976. Tuft length about average on the male. Obsolete on female.

Same birds as above. At this angle, male showing stubby tuft. Dingy brown on sides and flanks suggests first winter plumage.. Female showing extensive white in primaries.

Sleeping Tufted Duck and Canvasback at Lake Merritt Same bird as above with Canvasback.. Note brownish sheen to scapulars, probably suggestive of immaturity.

	March 1993, Spreckles Lake, Golden Gate Park. Long tuft present but hard to see in the photo. This bird had a thin "tassel" which was often pressed against the nape.
	Adult male Tufted Duck at the Old Sutro Baths, San Francisco, January 1989. Like the Spreckles Lake bird, the tuft was thin and often difficult to see. Note decided purplish sheen on head, typical of Tufted Ducks seen in California. I have only seen one Tufted Duck here which showed an extensively green sheen and it was a hybrid with a Ring-necked Duck! This sheen is iridescent and varies depending on light and individual variation. Note also the decidedly round, not flattened crown. This is also typical of Tufted Ducks I see in California.
	Same bird as above with female. Tuft length is easier to assess here. I have found tuft length to by highly variable. Some birds have tufts that actually touch the upper back. I have also seen individuals start out with a long tuft and later in the season show a shorter one, probably caused by breakage or wear.
	Pair of Tufted Ducks at Lake Merritt, Oakland. Midwinter 1976. Tuft length about average on the male. Obsolete on female.
	Same birds as above. At this angle, male showing stubby tuft. Dingy brown on sides and flanks suggests first winter plumage.. Female showing extensive white in primaries.
	Same bird as above with Canvasback.. Note brownish sheen to scapulars, probably suggestive of immaturity.