Long-tailed duck
Arctic sea duck known for deep diving and musical calls.
The long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) is a medium-sized sea duck that breeds on Arctic tundra and taiga, wintering along the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is the sole species in the genus Clangula.
Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus first described it in 1758, placing it in the genus Anas. English zoologist William Leach later created the genus Clangula in 1819, basing the name on a Latin word meaning "to resound." The species name hyemalis is Latin for "of winter." No subspecies are recognized. In North America, it was once called oldsquaw, but the American Ornithologists' Union officially changed the name to long-tailed duck in 2000 to align with global English usage, partly due to concerns about offensiveness to Native American tribes. Other historical names include coween, south-southerly, and old wife. An extinct relative is known from Middle Miocene fossils in Hungary.
The duck breeds across northern Eurasia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, parts of southern Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Alaska, and northern Canada. In winter, it inhabits large bodies of seawater, including the North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans, Hudson Bay, the Great Lakes, and small numbers on the Missouri River.
Adults have white underparts, with complex plumage changes through molts. The male sports a long, pointed tail (10–15 cm) and a dark gray bill with a pink band. In winter, his head and neck are mostly white with a dark cheek patch, a dark breast, and a mostly white body. In summer, his head, neck, and back are dark with a white cheek patch. The female has a brown back and a shorter tail; in winter, her head and neck are white with a dark crown, and in summer, her head is dark. Juveniles resemble adult females in autumn but have a lighter cheek patch. Males produce a musical yodelling call: *ow, ow, owal-ow*.
These ducks are migratory, wintering along North American coasts, the Great Lakes, coastal northern Europe and Asia, with stragglers reaching the Black Sea. The Baltic Sea is the most important wintering area, hosting about 4.5 million birds. As of 2022, they have also begun breeding in parts of Western Europe, such as the Marker Wadden in the Netherlands.
Breeding occurs in tundra pools, marshes, sea coasts, and large mountain lakes in the North Atlantic, Alaska, northern Canada, northern Europe, and Russia. The nest is on the ground near w
- Scientific name
- Clangula hyemalis
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Clangula (only member)
- Described by
- Carl Linnaeus, 1758
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN)
- Wintering population in Baltic Sea
- About 4.5 million
- Maximum diving depth
- 60 m (200 ft) or up to 80 fathoms (150 m; 480 ft) per Audubon Society
Lore & Background
The long-tailed duck was formally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae, where he placed it in the genus Anas and coined the binomial name Anas hyemalis. Linnaeus cited George Edwards's description and illustration of the 'Long-tailed duck from Hudson's-Bay' published in 1750. The species is now the only member of the genus Clangula, introduced in 1819 by English zoologist William Leach in an appendix to John Ross's account of his voyage to look for the Northwest Passage. The genus name Clangula is a diminutive of Latin clangere, meaning 'to resound', and the specific epithet hyemalis means 'of winter'.
In North American English, the duck was sometimes called oldsquaw, but this name fell out of favor. In 2000, the American Ornithologists' Union formally adopted the name long-tailed duck after petitioning by biologists who feared the former name would be offensive to Native American tribes whose help was required for conservation efforts. The AOU stated that 'political correctness' alone was not sufficient to justify changing a long-standing name, but decided to make the change because it would 'conform with English usage in other parts of the world'. Other names include coween, south-southerly, and old wife.
Long-tailed ducks breed on tundra across northern Eurasia, the Faroe Islands, Finland, parts of southern Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and across northern North America. They winter on large bodies of seawater, including the Northern Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, Hudson Bay, and the North American Great Lakes, with small numbers on the Missouri River. The most important wintering area is the Baltic Sea, where about 4.5 million gather. As of 2022, they have also been breeding in parts of Western Europe, such as on the Marker Wadden in the Netherlands.
Reader's Guide
The long-tailed duck is significant as the sole member of the genus Clangula, a lineage that includes an undescribed congener known from the Middle Miocene Sajóvölgyi Formation of Hungary, indicating a long evolutionary history. Its conservation status as vulnerable highlights threats from hunting and accidental mortality in gillnets, particularly in the Baltic Sea where populations have declined. The species is notable for its deep diving ability, using its wings to reach depths of up to 60 meters (or 150 meters per some sources), which is exceptional among ducks. Its vocalizations, described as a musical yodelling call, and complex plumage changes through the seasons make it a distinctive arctic bird. The name change from 'oldsquaw' to 'long-tailed duck' in 2000 reflects ongoing discussions about respectful nomenclature in ornithology. The species is covered by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA), underscoring its international conservation importance. Its breeding habitat in tundra pools and marshes and wintering aggregations of millions in the Baltic Sea make it an important component of arctic and marine ecosystems.
Did You Know?
- The long-tailed duck is the only member of the genus Clangula.
- Males have a long pointed tail measuring 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 in).
- They can dive to depths of 60 m (200 ft), and according to the Audubon Society Field Guide, up to 80 fathoms (150 m; 480 ft).
- The most important wintering area is the Baltic Sea, where about 4.5 million gather.
More in Birds of the Arctic 1-24
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