Tufted Duck - Brockwell Park

Male Tufted Duck

Tufted Duck's are easy to identify and they are the second most common duck after the Mallard. You should see them on most park ponds in London. The only bird you may confuse them with is the Scaup but that is usually only found in marine waters and lacks a tuft. The tufted duck is a diving bird it usually dives in 15-20 second bursts and has been recorded doing up to 100 dives an hour they usually dive to about 8ft. The east some plant mater, insects and molluscs. They are quite social ducks and enjoyable to watch in the daytime as they are usually quite busy. I counted at six pairs in Brockwell Park today.