TUFTED DUCK 



Fuligula crtstata 



>LTHOUGH the Tufted Duck is a fairly common winter 

 visitor to most of our low-lying coasts, it is extremely 

 local in its distribution during the breeding season. In 

 England it is most abundant in the counties of Norfolk 

 and Nottingham in the nesting season, and has been 

 recorded as breeding sparingly in several other counties. 

 In Scotland it breeds in considerable numbers in Perth- 

 shire and some of the adjoining counties, and its nest has been found in more 

 than one county in Ireland. 



The Tufted Duck is essentially a fresh-water duck during the breeding 

 season though found on the coast during winter, and prefers some shallow 

 lake or pond, rather secluded, and surrounded with reeds, rushes, anil 

 sedge. Its food consists of different water insects, varied with portions of the 

 weeds growing on the bottom, which latter food it obtains by diving, being 

 particularly expert at this, and often remaining for a considerable time under 

 water. When the Tufted Duck has brought up a bunch of weeds from the 

 bottom, it tears it to pieces on the surface, shaking it in the water and 

 selecting the choicest morsels. 



The Tufted Duck is not nearly so shy as some of its congeners, and may 

 generally be approached within quite a short distance. On the wing the duck 

 always precedes the drake, who follows faithfully in all her wheelings. During 

 the day the Tufted Duck is a very silent bird, and is usually to be seen 

 sitting on the water in the middle of the loch or pond where it has come to 

 feed, some asleep with their heads hidden under their scapulars, and others 

 pruning their feathers or diving for weeds. Tufted Ducks sit very lightly 

 on the water, and the drake is very conspicuous with his white breast and 

 dark wings and back; the crest on his head is quite visible even a long way 



