Die in arktischen gewässern lebenden Eisenten überwintern auf der Ostsee

When ducks go yodeling on the Baltic Sea

Long-tailed ducks love the cold, as evidenced by their German name, Eisente (ice duck). They breed in the Arctic regions around Iceland and Greenland, in the Siberian tundra, Canada and Alaska. But they remain in these northern climes even after the breeding season. The entire European population – some 4 million ducks – spends the winter in the Baltics. Particularly dense flocks of long-tailed ducks can be seen on the coast of Gotland and the outer coast of Rügen and Hiddensee in particular during the winter months. Retreating to warmer or even tropical climes like other migratory birds is totally foreign to these small sea ducks.

Excellent swimmers and divers, they spend most of the time on the water. Their favorite foods are mussels, and they can even reach depths of 30 meters. Before returning to their Arctic breeding grounds in April, the long-tailed ducks provide a loud and busy spectacle on the Baltic Sea during the mating season, which begins in February.

Despite their preference for freezing temperatures, long-tailed ducks are likely to warm up during their exciting search for a mate. The males searching for a mate emit an alluring mating call that sounds like yodeling and can be heard quite well, even from far away. They stretch out their neck and throw their heads back so far that they touch their backs to make an impression on their intended mates. Already striking thanks to their colorful, bright plumage and elongated, pointed tail feathers, these magnificent drakes draw even more attention with their impressive display. Parade flights are another part of the mating ritual. Often, several males will pounce on one female. Once successfully paired, the chicks are then born in the summer roosts in June or July.