Divers
Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Te male goldeneye is a black-and-white duck with a large, domed, black head that has a greenish sheen. It has a prominent white cheek spot and a fairly small black bill that slopes downward. Te female is slate-grey with a chocolate- brown head. Both sexes have yellow eyes and display large white wing-patches in flight. Juveniles resemble the female but have brown eyes and a dark grey bill.
Cumbrian distribution: common winter visitor, occasional in summer.
Habitats: coastal, freshwater and wetlands.
Conservation status:Red. Male
Tuſted duck (Aythya fuligula)
As its name suggests, the male has a long tuſt of feathers down the back of its neck. Its plumage is black with white flanks, and its head has a purplish gloss when seen close up. Te female is entirely chocolate-brown. Juveniles are similar to the female with a darker bill and brown eyes, and no crest.
Cumbrian distribution: common resident, joined by winter migrants. Breeds in moderate numbers.
Habitats: coastal, freshwater, wetlands and urban ponds.
Conservation status: Green. Male
Eider (Somateria mollissima)
Our largest and fastest-flying duck is easily recognisable. Te male has a black cap and belly, and the rest of its plumage appears white, with a pinkish tint to the breast and a green patch at the nape of the neck. Te female is greyish-brown with delicate barring. Juveniles are similar to the female with finer barring.
Cumbrian distribution: common resident in the south west of the county, uncommon elsewhere – South Walney is its southernmost breeding location.
Habitats: coastal. Conservation status: Amber.
Male
Pochard (Aythya ferina)
A relative of the tuſted duck, the male pochard has a brick- red head, black breast and grey back. Its eyes are bright orange or red. Te female is a darker, duller grey-brown, with pale face markings and brown eyes. Both sexes have grey wing-bars. Juveniles resemble the female with more motled underparts.
Cumbrian distribution: uncommon resident and common winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers.
Habitats: coastal, wetland and urban ponds. Conservation status: Red.
Male
Female a Female
Female
Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
A large and handsome duck, the shelduck is mostly white with a very dark green head and a bright red bill. It has a rust-coloured breast band and black patches on the back and wings. Te female is very similar, but is distinguished by the lack of a bill knob. Juveniles are generally duller than the adults and whiter around the head and underparts.
Cumbrian distribution: common resident, abundant winter and summer visitor. Breeds in moderate numbers.
Habitats: coastal, wetland, grassland and farmland.
Conservation status: Amber.
Female Female Male
Eclipse It’s easy to tell male and female ducks apart during the breeding season, as the males are on fine form, displaying their colourful plumage to attract a mate. Once the season is over, the males begin to moult all their vivid feathers, which are replaced by duller feathers similar to those of the females. This phase is known as eclipse plumage because it appears to conceal the ‘true’ plumage. After a few weeks the males moult again, and this time the new feathers are the recognisable bright feathers.
Tanks to Cumbria Bird Club for their annual reports on the distribution and status of Cumbrian bird populations.
For more information and to
purchase a copy of the 2024 annual report, Birds and Wildlife in Cumbria, visit
www.cumbriabirdclub.org.uk.
Cumbrian Wildlife | November 2025
13
© FERGUS GILL /2020VISION
© GILLIAN DAY
© GILLIAN DAY
© TERRY WHITTAKER/2020VISION
© FERGUS GILL/2020VISION
© MARK HAMBLIN/2020VISION
© DEREK MOORE
© TOM MARSHALL
© LUKE MASSEY/2020VISION
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