Long-tailed Duck

The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) is a striking sea duck known for its distinctive long tail feathers in males and its seasonal plumage, which shifts between bold black-and-white patterns in winter and more muted tones in summer. In Faxaflói Bay, these ducks are regular winter visitors, drawn to the bay's rich feeding grounds. Long-tailed Ducks are expert divers, capable of reaching significant depths to forage on crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish. Their presence in Faxaflói Bay highlights the area's importance as a wintering habitat for Arctic-breeding waterfowl. Monitoring Long-tailed Duck populations in the bay contributes to understanding changes in marine ecosystems and the broader impacts of environmental shifts on migratory bird species.