Ducks with mohawks are striking birds known for the unique crest of feathers that rises from the tops of their heads. This feather arrangement gives them a bold and distinctive appearance, making them stand out in flocks or among other waterfowl. The mohawk can vary in length, color, and prominence depending on age, sex, and season.
The crest serves more than just a decorative purpose. It can be used in courtship displays, where the raised feathers signal health, vitality, and readiness to mate. During social interactions, these feather tufts may also help convey dominance or submission within a group, adding subtle layers to their communication.
These mohawk-bearing birds are generally found in ponds, lakes, and calm rivers, where they feed on aquatic plants, insects, and small invertebrates. Their striking head feathers can sometimes make them more visible to predators, so they often rely on their alertness and strong swimming abilities to stay safe. Despite the extra attention they might draw, their crests do not hinder movement or feeding.
In flight and on water, the mohawk adds a dramatic flair to their silhouette. Observers often notice the crest bobbing with each movement, giving the birds a playful or regal quality depending on their posture.
Ducks With Mohawks
Crested Duck
Origin: Domestic breed (South America or East Indies).
This unique domestic breed sports a large, rounded puff of feathers on the top of its head, caused by a genetic mutation. Unlike the sleek crests of wild ducks, the Crested Duck’s “mohawk” is a voluminous, pom-pom-like tuft. It’s important to note that the gene responsible can be lethal if inherited from both parents.
Hooded Merganser
Found in: North America.
A small, diving duck where the male has an absolutely spectacular white, fan-shaped crest on a black head. He can expand and contract this crest during dramatic courtship displays, transforming it from a subtle stripe to a large, circular “mohawk” to attract females.
Red-breasted Merganser
Found in: North America, Europe, and Asia.
This sleek, fish-eating duck has a messy, double-pointed crest that gives it a distinctive, spiky mohawk appearance. Both males and females have this shaggy, two-toned crest, which remains erect, contributing to their ragged, punk-rock look.
Smew
Found in: Europe and Asia.
A small, elegant merganser. The male is strikingly patterned in crisp black and white, and it features a sleek, black crest that runs from its forehead down its nape, creating a sharp, defined mohawk against its otherwise white head.
Mandarin Duck
Found in: East Asia (introduced in Europe and the UK).
The male Mandarin is a masterpiece of avian fashion. Its “mohawk” is not a single crest but a combination of spectacular, sail-like orange feathers that sweep back from its eyes and elongated, copper-colored crest feathers on its crown, creating a multi-textured, dramatic look.
Wood Duck
Found in: North America.
A close relative of the Mandarin, the male Wood Duck has a stunning, iridescent head with a sleek, downward-sweeping crest. This crest, often outlined in white, has a smooth, helmet-like appearance that can be raised, giving it a pronounced mohawk silhouette.
Brazilian Merganser
Found in: South America (Brazil and Argentina).
One of the world’s most endangered ducks, it sports a long, shaggy, dark green crest that flows down the back of its neck. This crest is typically held as a spiky, trailing mohawk, similar to its merganser relatives.
Tufted Duck
Found in: Europe, Asia, and occasionally North America.
A common diving duck, the male has a long, thin, drooping black crest. While it hangs down the back of the neck rather than standing straight up, this prominent plume gives the bird a distinct and easily recognizable “tufted” silhouette.
Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea)
Found in: Northeast India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (likely extinct).
This legendary and likely extinct duck was known for its soft, pale pink head and a subtle but distinct tuft of feathers at the back of its crown, giving it a small, refined crest.
Baer’s Pochard (Aythya baeri)
Found in: Eastern Asia (critically endangered).
A rare diving duck, the male has a dark, iridescent green head with a slight peak at the crown, creating a low-profile mohawk silhouette, especially when viewed from the side.
Salvadori’s Duck (Salvadorina waigiuensis)
Found in: The highlands of New Guinea.
This unique, endemic duck has a dark, streaked appearance with a modest but noticeable crest of feathers on the back of its head and neck, giving it a shaggy, unkempt mohawk look.
Silver Teal (Spatula versicolor)
Found in: South America.
A small, elegant dabbling duck known for the male’s distinctive, upright white cheek patch and a sleek, dark cap that can be raised into a subtle, forward-sweeping crest.
Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys)
Found in: South America.
A small, beautifully marked perching duck. The male has a striking black-and-white ringed pattern and a delicate, fan-shaped crest that flows from the back of its head.
Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris)
Found in: Mediterranean Basin, Western Asia, and North Africa.
A threatened dabbling duck with a delicate, speckled appearance. It has a shaggy, slightly elongated crest at the nape of its neck, giving its head a soft, crested profile.
White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
Found in: Mediterranean Basin, Western and Central Asia.
A distinctive stiff-tailed duck, the male has a striking white face and a large, blue bill. During the breeding season, it develops a swollen, rounded head and a prominent, dark cap that can appear as a low, rounded crest.
Maccoa Duck (Oxyura maccoa)
Found in: Eastern and Southern Africa.
A small, stiff-tailed diving duck. The breeding male has a brilliant blue bill and a sleek, black cap that can be raised into a low, velvety crest during aggressive and courtship displays.
Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
Found in: Australia.
This goose-like duck has a distinctive, finely streaked plumage. Both sexes have a small, elegant, dark mane of feathers on the back of the head, creating a subtle but definite crest.
African Black Duck (Anas sparsa)
Found in: Sub-Saharan Africa.
A sleek, dark dabbling duck of fast-flowing streams. It has a prominent, shaggy crest of feathers on the back of its head and neck, giving it a rugged, unkempt appearance.
Bronze-winged Duck (Speculanas specularis)
Found in: Southern South America.
Also known as the Spectacled Duck, it has a distinctive dark head with a prominent greenish-bronze speculum. It possesses a noticeable, shaggy crest on the back of its head.
Meller’s Duck (Anas melleri)
Found in: Eastern Madagascar.
A large, dabbling duck resembling a female Mallard but with a more pronounced, shaggy crest of dark feathers on the back of its head and a distinctive stripe through the eye.
Falcated Duck (Mareca falcata)
Found in: Eastern Asia.
A stunning dabbling duck where the male has an iridescent green and purple head with long, sickle-shaped feathers forming an elegant, drooping crest over the neck, creating a graceful and elaborate mane.
New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae)
Found in: New Zealand.
A small, dark diving duck. The male has a glossy black head with a subtle but noticeable peak at the rear crown, giving it a low-profile mohawk silhouette, especially when viewed in profile.
Puna Teal (Spatula puna)
Found in: The high Andes of South America.
A distinctive dabbling duck with a striking light blue bill and a bold black cap that extends into a slight, spiky crest at the back of the head, giving it a clean, crested appearance.
Hottentot Teal (Spatula hottentota)
Found in: Sub-Saharan Africa.
A very small, elegant dabbling duck. It has a distinctive dark cap that extends into a pronounced, shaggy crest at the nape, contrasting sharply with its pale, speckled face.
Crested Shelduck (Tadorna cristata)
Found in: Possibly Northeast Asia (critically endangered, possibly extinct).
A legendary and rare shelduck. The male was described as having a dark, iridescent green head with a long, flowing, drooping black crest, giving it a very distinctive and elegant profile.
American Black Duck (Crested Variant)
Found in: Eastern North America.
While the standard wild type lacks a crest, a rare genetic variant can occur, resulting in individuals with a small, upright tuft of feathers on the crown, creating a subtle mohawk. This is not a species trait but a sporadic mutation.