Long tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)

A duck of cold northern waters. Often the most abundant bird in the high Arctic. Large flocks are often far out at sea; many spend the winter on such northern waters as Bering Sea, Hudson Bay, and Great Lakes. Flocks fly low over sea, with stiff shallow wingbeats, often tilting from side to side. Far more vocal than most ducks, and loud melodious calls of flocks can be heard from some distance. It was formerly called “Oldsquaw,” not politically correct by any measure, a reference to this “talkative” behavior, although it is the male of this species that makes most of the noise.

Length:

38-58 cm

Weight:

740 g

Wingspan:

72 cm

Population:

 Unknown