Clangula hyemalis
Status: Rare regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare casual winter visitor central and northeast.
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 2, 2, 3
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.
A later date is of at least four in the Lake McConaughy area 22 Dec-12 Jan 2024. See Winter.
- High counts: 11 at Keystone Lake, Keith Co 29 Nov 1998, 6 in Lancaster Co 7 Dec 1975 (Williams 1976), 6 in Cedar Co 12 Dec 1993 (Grzybowski 1994), 6 at Gavin’s Point Dam 16 Nov 2011, and 6 at Carter Lake 18-28 Nov 2017.
Winter: Of about 40 reports for the period 4 Jan-24 Apr, most are from Keith, Lincoln, and Cedar Cos and are of single birds with other wintering diving ducks, although high counts are of eight at Lake Ogallala during winter 1999-2000 and at least 11 at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala 2 Jan 2011. Sightings of an adult male in the Harlan County Reservoir area, Harlan Co 1 Jan-8 Mar 2006 were probably of the same individual. Up to three wintered in the Gavin’s Point Dam area, Cedar and Knox Cos, 15 Dec 2016-17 Feb 2017, 1-2 were there 14 Dec 2018-27 Jan 2019, and up to three 17 Dec 2021-5 Feb 2022
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, and 8 there 20 Dec 2013.
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/.
Grzybowski, J.A. 1994. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 48: 222-223.
Williams, F. 1976. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 30: 735-739.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 5 Mar 2024