Clangula hyemalis
Status: Rare regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare regular winter visitor central and east.
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM12300, 11 Nov 1931 east of Tekamah, Burt Co.
Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022).
Spring: Feb 26, 28, Mar 2 <<<>>> Apr 24, 28, 29
There are later reports 24 Apr-3 May 2023 Knox Co, 5-12 May 2019 Lancaster Co, 17 May 1985 and 18 May 1986 Lincoln Co.
A good showing was of singles at each of nine locations in the east 7 Mar-3 May 2023.
Fall: Oct 29, 30, 30 <<<>>> Jan 3, 3, 4
There are earlier dates 28 Sep-5 Oct 2002 at Winters Creek Lake, Scotts Bluff Co, 18 Oct 1946 Platte Co, 24 Oct 2020 Keith Co, 26 Oct 2020 Knox Co, 26-28 Oct 2020 Buffalo Co, and 28 Oct 2020 Lancaster Co.
For dates after 4 Jan, see Winter.
- High counts: 14 at Lake Ogallala, Keith Co 27 Dec 2024, 11 there 29 Nov 1998, and 10 at Gavin’s Point Dam, Knox Co 1 Jan 2025.
Winter: Midwinter (5 Jan-25 Feb) reports were few until winter 2013-2014. Since then, there have been reports of about 36 individuals, almost all from Lake Ogallala, Keith Co and the Gavin’s Point Dam area, Cedar and Knox Cos. The only midwinter records away from Keith, Cedar, and Knox Cos are 31 Jan-2 Feb 2025 Cass Co, 7 Feb 2006 Scotts Bluff Co, and 1 Jan-8 Mar 2006 Harlan Co.
A good showing in winter 2024-2025 was a total of 33 from at least 10 locations statewide.
Long-tailed Duck is “by far the most abundant sea duck wintering on the Great Lakes”, and “small numbers … can also occur on larger inland water bodies” (Baldassarre 2014).
- High counts: 11 at Lake McConaughy 2 Jan 2011, 9 there 12 Dec 1998-2 Jan 1999, 8 wintering there 1999-2000, 8 there 20 Dec 2013, and 8 there 5 Jan 2025.
Images
Abbreviations
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
Literature Cited
Baldassarre, G. 2014. Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2025. Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 5 Mar 2025