Long-tailed Duck,  Clangula hyemalis

Accepted Records

One female joined by two males (2012-087) from 8 April-25 May 2012, Cameron: Cameron, East Jetty; Michael J.Musumeche (ph), Erik I. Johnson (ph), Paul E. Conover (ph), Phillip A. Wallace, Jay V. Huner (see also), Thomas Finnie (ph), Devin Bosler (ph), and Danny Dobbs (card only). This cluster of reports may be re-evaluated and split into multiple records.

Photo by Michael J. Musumeche

One female (2012-124) on 24 March 2012, Cameron: Johnsons Bayou, rock jetty about ¼ mi. E Peveto Woods Sanctuary; Jay V. Huner and Erik I. Johnson (ph).

Photo by Erik I. Johnson

One female (2013-094) on 27 December 2013, and presumably the same individual 17-18 February 2014, St. Tammany: S Madisonville on Lake Pontchartrain at mouth of Tchefuncte River; Christopher G. Brantley and Janine Robin.

One (2014-002) on 8 January-2 March 2014, Union: D’Arbonne Lake at Hwy. 33 boat launch near Farmerville; Gerry Click (ph), Stephen L. Pagans (ph), and Jay V. Huner.

Photo by Stephen L. Pagans

One female/first winter male (2014-073) on 29 January-3 February 2014, Union: Lake D’Arbonne, where Hwy. 15 crosses lake; Glenn Golson Jr. (ph) and Devin Bosler (ph). Reportedly first discovered on 8 January 2014 by Gerry Click.

Photo by Devin Bosler

One female found dead (2016-014) on 25 May 2016, Cameron: Broussard Beach ; Angela Trahan (ph).

Photo by Angela Trahan

One immature female (2016-049) on 18 December 2016, Cameron: along Holly Beach; B. Mac Myers III (ph).

Photo by B. Mac Myers III

One male (2017-002) on 15 January 2017, Cameron: offshore at town of Holly Beach; Paul E. Conover (ph) and Dave Patton (ph only). Submitted after review: Phillip Wallace (ph)

Photo by Dave Patton

One (2017-006) on 28 January and presumably the same individual 5 February 2017, Cameron: Rutherford Beach, ranging from 0.5-2.7 mi. W camps; Paul E. Conover (ph).

Photo by Paul E. Conover

One adult female (2017-056) on 3-6 November 2017, Acadia: Crowley, Crowley Wastewater Treatment Plant; Oscar Johnson (ph) and Robert C. Dobbs (ph). Reportedly first observed 2 November (eBird report), last eBird report 10 November 2017.

Photo by Robert C. Dobbs

One male in non-breeding plumage (2017-088) on 15-16 November 2017, St. James: Convent, Herman Callais Jr. (ph).

Photo by Herman Callais Jr

One female in non-breeding plumage (2017-068) on 3 December 2017, Claiborne: Hwy. 9 between Homer and Athens, residence of Clayton Hayes; John Dillon (ph).

Photo by John Dillon

Three female/immature types (2018-024) on 17 February 2018, Cameron: Rutherford Beach; Robert C. Dobbs (ph) .

Photo by Robert C. Dobbs

One (2018-034) on 27 March-4 April 2018, Cameron: Cameron, Davis Rd.; Jay V. Huner (ph) and Thomas Finnie (ph) (+ video) .

Photo by Thomas Finnie

One (2020-005) on 12 January 2020, and likely the same individual on 24 January 2020; St. Tammany: Howze Beach and pond next to the Convention Center; Janine Robin (ph), Thomas Trenchard (ph), Glenn Ousset (ph only), and Renee Sawyer (ph only). Date range from photos in eBird spans 11-24 January, reportedly originally found by Wanda Beelman.

Photo by Janine Robin

One male in basic plumage (2020-093) on 26-30 December 2020, Orleans: New Orleans, Sankofa Wetland Park; David P. Muth (shared eBird lists include photo/video by J. V. Remsen), and Oscar Johnson (ph; https://ebird.org/checklist/ S78274987; https://ebird.org/checklist/S78003942). Reportedly found by Jennifer Coulson (https://ebird.org/checklist/ S78003942).

Photo by Oscar Johnson

One female (2020-084) on 28 December 2020, Natchitoches: by Mibermal Farms off Hwy. 1; Terri Jacobson (ph).

Photo by Terri Jacobson

One winter-plumaged female (2021-024) on 19 February 2021, Orleans: New Orleans, The Fly, Audubon Park; Tony Moline (ph: https://ebird.org/checklist/S81932507).

Unaccepted Records

Two, one non-breeding plumaged male and one probable non-breeding plumaged female (2014-016) on 9 March 2014, Sabine: Hodges Gardens SP. This observation was based on relatively distant views without the aid of binoculars, and the observer was inexperienced with the species. For those reasons, a majority of Members believed that it was justified to not accept this report.

One winter male (2011-034) on 18 January 2011, Rapides: 0.2 mi. from I-49 overpass at Hwy. 121 X Hwy 1. The report was not accepted by a one vote margin. It is important to describe plumage detail even for obvious and well-marked species and Members who voted not to accept specifically cited that the description was superficial and left too much to their imagination. In addition, Members also noted that the reported size relative to other duck species present was not correct.

One (2017-095) on 8 December 2017, Rapides: Kincaid Lake, west end of dam. All Members believed that the observer probably did see a Long-tailed Duck, but the description and photo did not provide adequate support for the record.

Two males (2010-095) on 15 December 2010, Terrebonne: Pelican Lake. This record went to a Discussion vote at the 2019 Annual Meeting. Members evaluated the record’s circumstances, noting that it was also a very brief sighting with a resulting superficial description, and that it reportedly involved two adult males. Most troubling was the superficial description, lack of discussion of similar species, and, ultimately, that the observer probably didn’t realize how rare the species was and did not submit a report until 1 ½ months later. We looked at a range of photos on the internet and reviewed the observer’s credentials. Ultimately, only two Members voted to accept.

One winter plumaged male (2020-092) on 15 November 2020, Plaquemines: Triumph Woods. Most members believed the description provided of this briefly seen fly-by was inconsistent with a Long-tailed Duck.