The Long-tailed Duck has a circumpolar distribution and, in North America, breeds at low densities in remote Arctic and Subarctic areas. During most of the year, this species is found primarily in coastal marine waters, often far offshore. Despite indications of long-term population declines, the Long-tailed Duck remains the most abundant Arctic sea duck in North America. The Long-tailed Duck is not commonly harvested by non-Indigenous hunters in Canada. However, it is believed to be an important species in Aboriginal subsistence harvesting, but the extent of this harvest remains unknown. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The Long-tailed Duck is a relatively abundant sea duck and, despite a significant long-term decline in its breeding population, there are no concerns over the population size. According to the Sea Duck Joint Venture technical team, one of the main management and conservation concerns pertaining to the Long-tailed Duck is the lack of an adequate annual survey on the breeding or wintering grounds (SDJV 2015).
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.
