The long-tailed duck, also known as oldsquaw, is a medium-sized sea duck that breeds in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. These birds are distinctively patterned with black and white plumage and long, ribbon-like tail feathers that give them their common name. Long-tailed ducks are migratory and spend their winters along both coasts of North America, where they frequent bays, estuaries and other shallow marine habitats.
Long-tailed ducks are diving ducks that feed on mollusks, crustaceans and other small invertebrates. They are sociable birds that form large flocks during the non-breeding season. The long-tailed duck has a characteristic vocalization that sounds like a yodeling call, which gives rise to their alternate name of “oldsquaw”.
When it comes to longevity, long-tailed ducks are a relatively long-lived species. However, pinpointing the exact typical lifespan for these birds in the wild can be challenging. In this article, we’ll explore what is known about the longevity and lifespan of the long-tailed duck.
Typical Lifespan in the Wild
Determining longevity in wild bird populations can be difficult. Unlike captive birds, we don’t have detailed birth and death records for individual wild birds that allow us to track their precise life spans. Instead, scientists rely on methods like bird banding studies to estimate typical life expectancies.
Banding studies involve placing a small numbered metal or plastic tag on the leg of a wild bird. Researchers can then identify individual birds if they are ever recaptured or found deceased. By looking at the time between initial banding and recapture events, we can calculate minimum longevity. In other words, we know a banded bird survived at least as long as the time between banding and recapture.
For long-tailed ducks, banding studies have recorded lifespans of up to 18 years in the wild. However, the average lifespan is lower than this maximum. One large study of over 2,000 banded long-tailed ducks found only three individuals that were 14 years or older at time of recapture. This suggests that while some long-tailed ducks may live nearly two decades, the average lifespan in natural conditions is likely between 5-10 years.
Factors Affecting Longevity
A number of factors likely influence longevity and lifespan in wild populations of long-tailed ducks:
Predation
Long-tailed ducks face predation pressure from a wide range of predators. On their Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding grounds, birds and eggs may be taken by foxes, mink, gulls, jaegers, and more. During migration and wintering, they are hunted by peregrine falcons, eagles, owls, and other raptors. This constant threat from predators likely limits the maximum lifespan for many individuals.
Food Availability
As with any wildlife species, food supply and nutritional status plays a key role in survival. Long-tailed ducks depend on finding adequate mollusk, crustacean and aquatic insect prey in coastal marine habitats. During harsh winters when food is scarce, or in years when prey populations crash, starvation likely takes a toll on long-tailed duck numbers and reduces life expectancy.
Weather and Environmental Factors
The long-tailed duck’s Arctic and sub-Arctic breeding habitat can be unforgiving, with late spring snow storms, freezing temperatures, and other challenges. Exceptionally severe weather either on the breeding grounds or wintering habitat can directly reduce survival or exert stress that shortens lifespan. Things like oil spills and other contaminants in marine environments may also negatively impact these birds and their food sources.
Hunting
Long-tailed ducks have historically been an important game species. Although they are no longer hunted to the same degree, legal regulated hunting does remove some individuals from the population annually and could reduce overall lifespan averages. However, well-managed sustainable hunting that targets adult birds likely has minimal impact on longevity compared to natural predation.
Disease and Parasites
Like any bird, long-tailed ducks can suffer from bacterial, viral, or fungal diseases. They may also be impacted by parasites like nematodes, tapeworms, and external feather mites. While disease outbreaks are rarely catastrophic for long-tailed ducks, chronic parasitic infections or immunosuppressing diseases could impact an individual’s lifespan over time.
Sex Differences in Lifespan
In many bird species, there are differences in average lifespan between males and females. Does this hold true for long-tailed ducks?
There is some evidence that female long-tailed ducks may on average live slightly longer than males. One reason is that the annual breeding cycle takes a higher toll on males. Males must compete for mates in courtship displays, establish and defend nesting territories, and stand guard while females incubate clutches. This extra energy expenditure could shorten lifespans relative to females.
The cost of reproduction is also generally higher for female birds. However, some researchers suggest male long-tailed ducks provide less parental care than males of related species. If true, this could help balance out breeding season stresses between the sexes and lead to more similar longevity.
Overall, sex differences in lifespan are likely minor in long-tailed ducks. Much more research is still needed to compare longevity between males and females conclusively. Banding studies that track known-sex individuals over time will help refine our understanding.
In Captivity
What about longevity for long-tailed ducks kept in captive settings like zoos? As you might expect, average lifespans are notably longer when individuals are protected from predation, hunting, severe weather, and other hazards.
There are limited records for captive long-tailed ducks, since they are an uncommon species to be kept and bred in waterfowl collections. But data compiled from European zoos suggests average lifespan values of around 9 years for males and 12 years for females. The maximum recorded lifespan for captive long-tailed ducks was a remarkable 27 years for one female.
This pattern of increased longevity in captivity aligns with data from many other duck, goose, and swan species. For example, a comparative study found average lifespans ranged from 5-10 years for wild ducks, but 12-24 years under captive care. Minimizing external mortality factors allows more individuals to approach their biological maximum lifespan potential.
Summary of Long-Tailed Duck Lifespan
In summary, long-tailed ducks are moderately long-lived waterfowl with the following lifespan parameters:
Wild Long-Tailed Ducks
| Average Lifespan | 5-10 years |
| Maximum confirmed lifespan | 18 years |
| Difference between sexes | Females likely slightly longer lived |
Captive Long-Tailed Ducks
| Average Lifespan | 9-12 years |
| Maximum confirmed lifespan | 27 years |
| Difference between sexes | Females average 12 years vs. 9 years for males |
While a small percentage of individuals may reach ages of 15 years or greater, most long-tailed ducks likely only survive between 5-10 annual migration cycles on average. Persistent threats from predators, environmental factors, disease, and hunting pressure all combine to keep average wild long-tailed duck lifespans relatively short compared to their biological lifespan potential. Still, these birds continue to show resilient populations that have carved out an important ecological niche across portions of the northern latitudes. Their distinctive appearance and vocalizations will likely continue to make long-tailed ducks a popular fixture in their coastal Arctic and sub-Arctic habitats for generations to come.
