The Long Tailed Duck in Breeding Plumage

As we work through the bird photos in something like chronological order, we are still well within the first day's adventure. Today I bring you the Long Tailed Duck. They don't normally look like this but this is breeding season and everybody has to (re)dress for the occasion. This fellow is no different.

Even though this is a long tailed duck, he has a short tail. Perhaps due to the molting process that gives him his change of clothes for the breeding adventure. He was referred to all week as our "short tailed long tailed duck". I'll have photos (and a video) of another one of these guys later with a proper long tail.

Even the female adopts a brown motif rather than the usually dominant black on white.

These are handsome ducks with their tuft of downy feather on top of their heads.

These two are now inseparable for the season as they begin the process of raising a family.

And to also prepare you for these northerly latitudes, I should tell you that these photos were taken about 11 pm. The sun is still well up in the sky, although getting lower as you can tell from the color and direction of the light.