UK Wildlife

Long-tailed Duck Arctic Diver

The long-tailed duck is an Arctic-breeding diving duck that winters on UK coasts and offshore, with spectacular plumage and deep-diving ability adapted to cold marine environments.

Key Facts

Long-tailed ducks can dive to depths of 60m to reach bottom-dwelling invertebrates
UK wintering population around 15,000, mainly in Scottish waters
Male has distinctive long tail streamers in winter plumage
Breeds on Arctic tundra ponds and coasts from Greenland to Siberia
Makes loud yodelling calls that can be heard from great distances

Welfare Considerations

Long-tailed ducks are vulnerable to oil pollution, by-catch in fishing nets, and climate-driven changes in their Arctic breeding habitats. Offshore wind farm development may affect their wintering distribution in some areas.

What You Can Do

Support sustainable offshore wind development that minimises impacts on diving duck habitat
Advocate for by-catch reduction measures in commercial fishing
Record long-tailed duck through coastal surveys to track wintering population