Tufted Duck

A Tufted Duck  (Aythya fuligula) at the lake of South Marine Park, South Shields.

The tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) is a small diving duck with a population of close to one million birds. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin, fuligo “soot” and gula “throat”.