Long-tailed ducks are fantastic. You can see whole rafts of them off the coast of the northeast US in the winter. I'd argue they are one of the ducks whose males in non-breeding plumage (like in the top photo, sporting the full white top of the head) are even more striking that the males in breeding plumage (like the second photo if the whole top of the head was dark).
It's been years since I've heard of this happening, but I have multiple friends who have had the unfortunate experience of a (usually older white male) birder deciding to strike up a conversation with them while observing long-tailed ducks by opening with, "You know, they used to call them [racist name]...". Yet another data point in why the Bird Names for Birds folks are so rad.
Off to look at gulls tomorrow morning! Fingers crossed we'll get some ducks as well.
I was in Burlington, Ontario at the end of last year and saw lots of these when I went on a walk. I had never heard of them before (despite being a newly-into-birds person) and was amazed to see them diving and how long they stayed under water. Highlight of the walk for sure! Took pictures and videos but can't compare to what's already been posted here.
If you thought "I wanna see the duck underwater"
https://youtu.be/EvdVrt89EHY
Long-tailed ducks are fantastic. You can see whole rafts of them off the coast of the northeast US in the winter. I'd argue they are one of the ducks whose males in non-breeding plumage (like in the top photo, sporting the full white top of the head) are even more striking that the males in breeding plumage (like the second photo if the whole top of the head was dark).
It's been years since I've heard of this happening, but I have multiple friends who have had the unfortunate experience of a (usually older white male) birder deciding to strike up a conversation with them while observing long-tailed ducks by opening with, "You know, they used to call them [racist name]...". Yet another data point in why the Bird Names for Birds folks are so rad.
Off to look at gulls tomorrow morning! Fingers crossed we'll get some ducks as well.
I was in Burlington, Ontario at the end of last year and saw lots of these when I went on a walk. I had never heard of them before (despite being a newly-into-birds person) and was amazed to see them diving and how long they stayed under water. Highlight of the walk for sure! Took pictures and videos but can't compare to what's already been posted here.