Tufted Duck
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Aythya fuligula
Very common & widespread breeder of 7,500 pairs & winter of 110,000, mostly September-April in Britain & Ireland.
Breeds in Iceland, France & Spain.
Males are all black except for white flanks and a blue-grey bill with golden yellow eyes, along with a thin crest on the back of the head.
It has a prominent tuft on its head, which gives the species its name.
Females are brown with lighter flanks, and is more easily confused with other diving ducks. In particular, some have white around the base of the bill, resembling the Scaup species, although the white is never as extensive as that of those ducks.
The call is a harsh, growling "karr", usually given in flight.