drake; yellow iris; grey sides; dark body (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)


Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligula

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: the Eurasian counterpart of scaup ducks in the Americas; both sexes have the pronounced tuft on the head that gives this diving bird its name; strong sexual dimorphism.


drake; blue bill with dark tip; (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)
drake; tufted head (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)

hen; brown body; white face (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)
hen; yellow eye; tufted head (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)

hen; white facial patch around base of bill (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-18)