Gould commented on the changes of plumage throughout the year of the Long-tailed Duck 'In summer the male has long tail-feathers and a rich chestnut, grey and black dress: the female has the same colours; but being destitute of the ornamental tail-feathers, her appearance is that of a dumpy short-tailed Duck.'

The male also has a beautiful, but different colouring in winter as does the female but without the long tail.

In the illustration the foreground duck is a male in winter, behind are a male and a female in summer plumage.

DISTRIBUTION: Breeds northern Palaearctic and northern North America. Winters partly within its breeding range and partly to the south as far as the Baltic, southern North Sea, occasionally south Europe, east China, Japan and southern United States. May have bred on few occasions in Britain; winter visitor