Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)

This is an immature male. Adult males are strikingly black and white, with a long head tassel, but immature males such as this have retained juvenile brown smudging on the flanks, breast and scapulars with only a rudimentary tuft. The broad black bill tip extending well beyond the nail is a useful identification feature. Although still a rarity in California, this Eurasian species is no longer reviewed by the California Bird Records Committee. This one was found by Mark Rauzon on 11 January.