Tufted Duck

Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female
2019-01-12 Cholpon-Ata 2019-02-11 Issyk-kul region, Saruu	© Irina Romanovskaia © Tatiana Menshikova

Biology

Common breeding migrant and numerous during migration. Inhabits steppe lakes and rivers with reed-beds or willow bushes, and mountain lakes with forested shore up to 1500 m in Altai. Appears end February – early March in southern regions, and early – mid-April in the north. Migrates mainly at night and at dawn in small flocks of several dozen, but sometimes 100-150, resting by day and gathering in big numbers. Migration completed by end May. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is built on shore near water in shallow hollow, on small islands or on floating reed stems from dry grasses, reed leaves and lined with down. Clutches of 6-12 eggs end May – early July. Juveniles hatch early June – end July, and may not fly until end August. Moulting males noted mid-July – August, but not known where they concentrate. Autumn migration is very late, from mid- or end September, and continues until water freezes, early – mid-November.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.