Tufted Duck
Tufted Duck male and female
| Irish Name: | Lacha bhadánach |
| Scientific name: | Aythya fuligula |
| Bird Family: | Ducks |
Resident and winter visitor, with birds breeding in southeast England observed migrating to Ireland, potentially due to cold weather conditions.
Small and short-bodied, this bird features a large head and crest, which is more pronounced in breeding males than in other plumages or females. Males display black plumage, white flanks, a yellow eye, and a blue-grey bill. Females, mostly brown with paler flanks, can resemble Scaup, particularly when some show an extensive white band around the base of the bill.
More details can be found at https://birdwatchireland.ie/birds/tufted-duck/.