Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae)

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) - HBW 1, p. 627

French: Erismature à tête blanche German: Weißkopf Ruderente Spanish: Malvasía Cabeciblanca
Other common names: White-headed Stifftail

Taxonomy: Anas leucocephala Scopoli, 1769, no locality, but probably northern Italy.
Considered by some to form superspecies with O. jamaicensis, sometimes including other species, but probably more closely linked to O. maccoa; relationships between Oxyura species uncertain. Hybridization with O. jamaicensis in the wild, producing fertile progeny, has occurred in S Spain, where birds from introduced English population have arrived. Monotypic.

Distribution: SW Mediterranean basin to extreme NW China; main population in S USSR. Formerly more widespread in Mediterranean area.