Female Tufted Ducks (Male vs Female Identification)

stuffed duck (Aythya fuligula) is a common diving duck of the Anatidae family. These birds can be seen on gravel pits, reservoirs and other suitable bodies of water throughout the UK, although numbers increase each year when birds from colder regions arrive in the north in search of respite during the winter.

The species gets its name from the long, floppy crests of male dragons, although females are less ornate. So what do female tufted ducks look like, and how do they differ from males?

Female tufted ducks are chocolate brown above, with very short tufts on the crown and light brown underparts. They are easy to spot from the males that appear black above (green and purple in good light), with white flanks and long tufts of hair.

Tufted ducks are widely distributed in low-lying areas of the UK. However, they avoided most of Wales, the Scottish Highlands, the South or the Republic of Ireland. Elsewhere, their global distribution extends from Iceland in the west to Japan in the east and Kenya in the south.

They are common breeding waterfowl in the UK, usually nesting in vegetation near water’s edge. From about mid-June, birders can keep an eye out for females walking around with their ducklings, a good time to observe some of their unique behaviour.

This article covers everything you need to know about female tufted ducks. Read on to learn more about their habits and how to identify them in the field.

Closeup of a female tufted duck rising from the water

How do you know if a tufted duck is male or female?

Tufted ducks are sexually dimorphic, meaning there are distinct differences between males and females. The most obvious difference is the side color. Males have bright white sides, while females are brown.

There are also notable differences in their calling and nesting behavior, which we’ll cover later in this article.

female tufted duck

male tufted duck

What does a female tufted duck look like?

Tufted ducks are medium-sized diving ducks, significantly smaller than mallards (platypus). These stout waterfowl have large heads and feet, although their lower parts are often hidden underwater.

Female tufted ducks vary widely in color, but they are usually dark chocolate brown on the head and back, with light brown breasts and flanks. Ironically, female tufted ducks only have short tufts, unlike the drake’s distinctive ponytail “hairstyle.”

They have sharp yellow/orange eyes and a gray beak, with some specimens having white feathers around the base of the chin or beak. Outside the water, birders may notice their pale bellies and black legs, and prominent white wing bars visible in flight.

Female tufted duck swimming on the lake

Women and Teens

Adult females can be easily distinguished from males, but juvenile birds can be more challenging to sex.

Until about mid-winter, juvenile male tufted ducks resemble adult females. However, they can be identified by a slightly patterned and usually darker upper part. Juveniles also have black irises and no tufts.

Same species

Female tufted ducks are more likely to be confused with other species than males. Read on to learn how to distinguish them from some similar waterfowl species.

In the UK, female tufted ducks are most likely related to female Scaup (Atia Marilla), closely related species. However, Scaup hens are larger in size, lack tufts on their heads, and usually have prominent white feathers around the base of the beak.

Female Pochard (A. ferina) is another similar species of the genus Aythya. The birds are grayish brown overall, with pale cheeks and dark brown eyes. They are also far less common than tufted ducks in summer and have red protected status in the UK.

Female tufted ducks may also be confused with female Wigeons (anna penelope), although this species has a lighter base color, darker eyes, and white wing feathers.

Front view of an adult female tufted duck

What is the female tufted duck’s name?

Female tufted ducks are called hens, while males are called drakes.

Are female tufted ducks bigger than males?

Tufters of each sex have similar weights, although females are usually smaller than males. Hens weigh between 560 and 930 grams, while the largest males can weigh just over a kilogram. Both sexes have a body length of 40 – 47 cm and a wingspan of 67 – 73 cm.

A breeding pair of tufted ducks, female (left) and male (right)

behavioral difference

Both male and female tufted ducks are powerful swimmers and divers, and they feed on aquatic plants and molluscs on the bottom of still and slow-flowing rivers. They are social birds, with males and females often forming large flocks.

Tufted ducks inhabit the UK year-round, although many birds visit from further north in winter. Migrating females tend to start migrating slightly later than males.

sing and call

Female tufted ducks are more vocal than males. This species is relatively quiet outside of the spring breeding season, although females make some noticeable vocalizations.

Females quack and make flight calls during courtship. They also sound sirens to guide ducklings away from danger.

Male and female tufted ducks have many different roles during nesting season. Read on to find out how they act differently.

Paired Tufted Ducks – female in the foreground

nesting and feeding

Female tufted ducks build their nests, usually next to other tufted ducks, sometimes mixed with gulls or terns.

The nest is usually located close to the water, although it can be further back on relatively safe islands. Nests are built on the ground with sedges and grasses, lined with a thick layer of down and soft plant material.

After building her own nest, the tufted duck hen alone lays and incubates 8 to 11 eggs and cares for the ducklings for about 42 days, after which she abandons them to fend for herself.

Tufted ducks are monogamous during the breeding season, but females mate with new partners each year. They usually return to the same area each year to nest, although one female was tracked down an incredible 2500km from where she was the previous year!

Mother tufted duck swimming with her ducklings

Can female tufted ducks be reared alone?

Female tufted ducks raise their young without the help of a mate. Interestingly, this behavior is typical of ducks breeding in the northern hemisphere, while many species from the south share parental responsibilities.

What color are female tufted ducks?

The female tufted duck is a brown waterfowl with a gray beak and black legs. They have a darker head and back with lighter feathers underneath. However, their eyes stand out against dark, pastel plumage and bright yellow/orange irises.

Close-up of an adult female tufted duck

Do female tufted ducks quack?

Female tufted ducks make a variety of calls, including the typical duck-like “quack.” They call during courtship and during nighttime flight, and convey danger messages to their ducklings.

Do female tufted ducks have tufts on their heads?

Female tufted ducks do not have the long, prominent crests that males do. However, short clusters are often seen.