Physical Description:
14 1/2-18" (37-46 cm). Black above, including breast, tail, and peaked head with red eyes. White rings at base and near end of a black bill. White below, including flanks. Females dark brown with darker back and black bill with one white ring near end; pale eye ring.

Similar Species- Tufted Duck, female scaups

Song:
Barked qua-qua-qua-qua-qua-qua.

Distribution:
Breeds from southeastern and east-central Alaska and central British Columbia, east through Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, and south to northeastern California, southeastern Arizona, southern Colorado, and parts of the Midwest to New York. Winters from southeastern Alaska and Massachusetts, south through southwestern U.S. and Mexico to Panama.

Found on marshes, lakes, rivers, and swamps, especially in wooded areas. Winters primarily in freshwater and brackish situations on larger lakes, rivers, and estuaries; prefers deep, open water. In Idaho, prefers shallow forested ponds and lakes for breeding, and large rivers and reservoirs during winter.

Diet:
Plant material, such as tubers, leaves, rootstocks, and seeds of aquatic plants, is important part of diet. Also eats aquatic invertebrates, especially in summer. Downy young eat insects, snails, sponges, seeds, and other plant material.

Ecology:
Builds nest in dry spot on ground near water, or sometimes on dry site over water. Dives from water surface to obtain food from as far as 12 m underwater. Most active in early morning and evening; sleeps by day near emergent vegetation by shorelines.

clutch size varies from 6-14 eggs (usually 8-10). Female incubates eggs (25-29 days), and tends young, which are precocial and downy, and fly about 49 days after hatching.

Conservation:

Element Code:	ABNJB11040
Status:	Protected nongame species
Global Rank:	G5
State Rank:	S3
National Rank:	N5B,N5N

Important State References:
No references are available at this time.