This small, stocky sea duck is common on Eastern Atlantic and western Pacific shallow and open ocean and along sandy shorelines. It dives for crustaceans and is found in small groups, rarely in the company of other species.
Found on Payne County's Lake Carl Blackwell and most commonly at Jefferson County's Waurika Lake in 2018, as well as Tulsa's Oxley in 2017 and prior, this duck is very common during Oklahoma's winters.
The oldsquaw has thin tail feathers, a small bill, black wings, and brown back. It is fairly easy to tell its age and sex, even through its assorted plumages. These migratory birds form fairly large flocks during the winter and times of migration on the Great Lakes, both coasts, and in Eurasia, especially on the Baltic Sea. They use their wings to dive and can go considerably further in a dive than other ducks, about 480 feet deep.
Long-tailed Duck, Winter Plumage
Brian Marra, Lake Waurika, 2018
Their somewhat shocked laugh is one of its trademarks, which is a highly unusual sound and will call your attention to it. It is classified as a vulnerable bird.
No comments:
Post a Comment