Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaWhere and when to see them

Tufted Ducks are compact diving ducks whose contrasting male plumage is especially striking when several birds rest together on a lake. The species belongs to the diving-duck genus Aythya, rather than the familiar surface-feeding mallards. BTO describes aquatic invertebrates and bivalve molluscs as favoured foods. The Seine association here concerns Grande Noë at Val-de-Reuil, a floodplain gravel-pit lake inside the Léry-Poses loop. It does not mean that the species should be expected beside a ship throughout the Seine. A shore excursion to a public hide provides the relevant viewing opportunity. Species reference: https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/tufted-duck

Size

Body length not verified in the retrieved source.

Weight

853.4 g (30.1 oz); BTO reference value, not a local population mean.

Lifespan

Species-specific lifespan not verified.

Status

RSPB UK conservation status: Green; global assessment not verified in the retrieved material.

A feeding bird disappears completely beneath the surface, then reappears between dives. Resting groups can look almost motionless until individuals begin another feeding bout. Watching a group over several minutes is more useful than treating every submerged duck as having left the site. BTO distinguishes the small British breeding population from substantial winter arrivals, demonstrating that flock size can change through migration. Those British movements should not be used as a calendar for Normandy. At Grande Noë, observe natural feeding and resting behaviour without throwing food into the lake.

• It is a diving duck.
• Males have sharply contrasting white sides.
• Females are predominantly brown.
• The eye is yellow.
• A small head crest gives the species its English name.
• A white wing stripe is visible in flight.
• Bivalve molluscs are among its favoured foods.
• Grande Noë is a lake excursion rather than main-channel evidence.

The registry recommends winter viewing at Grande Noë, but the retrieved local occurrence quotation does not supply a recurring numerical month range. British winter influxes described by BTO cannot establish the Normandy observation calendar. The Seine location therefore retains an empty months array. Before planning a dedicated shore visit, consult the reserve’s current access information and recent local reports. A useful visit may include mixed diving-duck flocks, but the species should not be promised from the main cruise deck or treated as guaranteed whenever a lake is visible.

Open freshwater with accessible underwater prey is central to this duck’s ecology. BTO records the species on lakes and ponds, including urban waters, so a natural river channel is not essential. Grande Noë illustrates that distinction: its former gravel workings provide lake habitat within the wider Seine floodplain. The public hides, rather than the cruise navigation channel, are the appropriate observation setting. Differences in depth, food availability and disturbance can influence where birds gather within a lake; the presence of apparently suitable water does not establish that every corner will hold ducks.

BTO specifically identifies aquatic invertebrates and bivalve molluscs as favoured food. Tufted Ducks reach these resources by diving rather than merely tipping forward from the surface. Their feeding therefore depends on what is available below the water as well as on the appearance of the lake from shore. A Grande Noë prey inventory and local seasonal dietary proportions were not verified. Do not assume a resting flock is waiting for bread: supplementary feeding is unnecessary for viewing and can change the birds’ distribution and behaviour.

Common name

Tufted Duck

Scientific name

Aythya fuligula

Animal group

Birds

Size

Body length not verified in the retrieved source.

Weight

853.4 g (30.1 oz); BTO reference value, not a local population mean.

Lifespan

Species-specific lifespan not verified.

Status

RSPB UK conservation status: Green; global assessment not verified in the retrieved material.

Identification

RSPB describes the male as black on the head, neck, chest and back, with white sides, a small crest and a yellow eye. The species is smaller than a Mallard. Females are predominantly brown rather than miniature versions of the black-and-white male. A white wing stripe becomes apparent in flight, but identification should not depend on flushing a bird. Look for the combination of compact diving-duck shape, eye colour and head tuft, allowing for viewing angle and plumage variation. A distant dark duck without those details is not a secure identification.