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Species › Birds

White-headed Duck

Oxyura leucocephala

Order
Anseriformes
Family
Anatidae
Presence in the Strait
Vagrant
Protection in Spain
In danger of extinction · Andalusian Catalogue
In Spanish
Malvasía cabeciblanca

Photograph: Christoph Moning, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
43–48 cm
Wingspan
62–70 cm
Weight
675–800 g
020406080LENGTH43–48 cmWINGSPAN62–70 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Accidental. One female on 24.04.35 at the now nonexistent Soto del Torero (Vejer de la Frontera), six birds on 10.09.57 along the coast near Tarifa, and two birds on 19.01.97 at the Marismas del Palmones.

Identification

Small, with long stiff tail. In winter the colour of the male’s bill is the same as the female’s. When feeding, dives easily. Flies low requiring long distance to take off. Anátidas en vuelo Tarro Blanco p. 94 Ansar Común p. 92 Serreta Mediana p. 102 Negrón Común p. 102 Cerceta Pardilla p. 98 Cerceta Carretona p. 98 Cerceta Común p. 96 Anatidae Malvasía Cabeciblanca Waterfowl in flight Azulón Europeo p. 96 Cuchara Común p. 98 Pato Colorado p. 100 Ánade Rabudo p. 96 Ánade Friso p. 94 Silbón Europeo p. 94 Porrón Moñudo p. 100 Porrón Europeo p. 100 Porrón Pardo p. 100

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.