Long-tailed Duck Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesLong-tailed Duck
Nonbreeding male
Small sea duck with a small bill and very long, slender tail feathers. White head outlines dark face and neck; white plumes cover brown back.
© Kojo Baidoo / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, January 18, 2021Nonbreeding female
Small sea duck with a small bill. Back, wings and breast are brown, contrasting with white head and smudgy brown cheek.
© Tom Auer / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, November 22, 2016Nonbreeding male and immature male
Often found in groups on coastal marine waters and large freshwater lakes during the winter.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew JerseyBreeding male
Small sea duck with a small bill and very long tail feathers. Dark head and neck outlines white face patch (reverse of nonbreeding male's pattern).
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryManitoba, June 13, 2009Nonbreeding male
In flight, note long tail. White collar, dark breast, and white belly are distinctive.
© Brian Stahls / Macaulay LibraryOntario, January 01, 2021Nonbreeding female
Small sea duck with a small bill, all dark wings, and white sides on the rump.
© Tim Lenz / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 11, 2017Nonbreeding female
Female lacks the male's long tail. Mostly white face with dark cheek and fairly small, straight bill.
© Samuel Burckhardt / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, December 28, 2016Immature male
Immature males lack the long tail and white back feathers, but have yellow-orange tip to bill like adult males.
© Ilya Povalyaev / Macaulay LibraryWashington, February 29, 2020Female and chick
Females lack the long tail. Brownish overall with white patch around and behind eye, and a white collar.
© Anonymous / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 2016Nonbreeding male and female
Small sea duck with a small, straight bill. Adult male has long tail; female lacks it.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, March 25, 2011Habitat
In winter usually found in salt water, especially sandy coastlines. Often occurs in flocks.
© Shawn Fitzpatrick / Macaulay LibraryNewfoundland and Labrador, November 26, 2016Similar SpeciesSteller's Eider
Male
Male Steller's Eiders have a buffy (not black) breast and a longer tail than Long-tailed Ducks.
© Mitch Walters / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 23, 2016Similar SpeciesSteller's Eider
Male and female
Female Steller's Eiders have less white on the face than female Long-tailed Ducks and they have dark (not white) rear ends. Males have buffier bellies than male Steller's Eiders.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 16, 2014Similar SpeciesHarlequin Duck
Breeding male and female
Male Harlequin Ducks have a dark gray (not buffy) belly and a chestnut patch on the side that male Steller's lack. Female Harlequin Ducks have 2 white spots on the face that female Steller's lack.
© Cos van Wermeskerken / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 15, 2017Similar SpeciesNorthern Pintail
Breeding male
Male Northern Pintails have a brown head, not white like Long-tailed Ducks and gray, not buffy sides.
© Paul Hueber / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 01, 2013Similar SpeciesNorthern Pintail
Female
Female Northern Pintails are paler overall than female Steller's Eiders. Females don't have white patches on the face like female Steller's Eiders.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, February 26, 2014Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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