Tufted duck

    Aythya fuligula

Castilian: Porrón moñudo

Catalan: Morell de plomall

Gallego: Pato cristado

Euskera: Murgilari mottoduna

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Anseriformes

Family: Anatidae

Migratory status: Winter resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Not Evaluated”.

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THREATS

Loss of habitat due to drying up, pollution or basin clogging are its primary enemies, although hunting also affects it negatively.

Length / size: 40-47 cm / 65-72 cm

Identification: Diving duck that is characterised by a tuft coming out of the nape. The male presents practically black plumage except for his white flanks and belly; his irises are yellow, his bill bluish and black on the tip, and his tuft long. The females are brown and the tuft is significantly shorter.

Song: The male makes a sound similar to a gurgle, "gruh gruh", while the female makes a "krkrkrkr" quack.

Diet: It feeds on small crustaceans, mollusks, and insects, as well as stalks and aquatic plants that it obtains by diving.

Reproduction: The female builds the nest in the ground or on islets where it is protected by vegetation; it is made of grass, twigs and down. The chicks follow the mother immediately after hatching and are cared for exclusively by her.

HABITAT

During breeding season, it prefers semi-deep waters for diving, such as freshwater lakes, and when wintering, it can be found in rivers, reservoirs, lakes, bays and even ponds in urban parks.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: In winter it is distributed throughout the wetlands of Asturias, Galicia, Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha.

In Castile and León: It is distributed throughout all the provinces.

Movements and migrations: Migrations from central and northern Europe begin in September, and wintering populations reach the peninsula around October.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 2000-6500 wintering specimens.

In Castile and León: There is an estimated population of 220 wintering specimens.