They have a duller blue shoulder patch, an overall rustier color and are more heavily streaked. Female white-winged scoters are a dark brownish-black color with two whitish patches on the sides of their heads, in front of and behind the eye. Green-winged teal are the smallest of our North American dabbling ducks with a short neck and small bill. Females are a golden brown color with brown to black markings all over their body. Make a difference for wetlands and waterfowl by becoming a DU member today. The legs and feet are deep red. The legs and feet are blue-gray to dark gray. These birds live in wooded swamps, where they nest in holes in trees or in nest boxes put up around lake margins. Their body has many features that make them adaptable. The legs and feet are gray and the iris is yellow. Click to reveal Drag the image of the sea duck to the correct species name. Male black scoters are entirely black except for a yellow protuberance on the base of the bill and the gray lower surface of the flight feathers. In addition to these three main groups you may have also come across whistling ducks. Scientific name: Anas clypeataRegion: Asia, Europe, North America and rare in AustraliaFemale: Body is mottled brown with a long orange bill tinged with gray.Male: Breeding male has greenish-black head, chestnut belly, white breast, yellow eyes and a black bill. They are preys to many predators like big birds, crocodiles, snakes, foxes, etc. The most common here in the United States is the wood duck. The bill is pinkish and the legs and feet are orange. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. There are three different subspecies: Chilean Torrent Duck, Columbian Torrent Duck, and Peruvian Torrent Duck. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Canvasback is an easy to identify diving duck. Lesser snow geese have two color phases: a dark (blue) plumage and a white (snow) plumage. But practice makes a man perfect, they say! In general, black-bellied whistling-ducks are long-legged, long-necked and the most erect of all ducks. Males have a tan and black speckled chest that is replaced by a tiny white barring pattern along the flank, whereas females have a brown and white speckled pattern throughout. Male common goldeneyes have blackish iridescent green heads with a white circular patch between the eye and the base of the bill. These ducks have one of the earliest breeding seasons; they can be found making ground nests in the northern prairies of the U.S. as soon as the ice begins to thaw. Both sexes are identical in plumage, except that the male's white necklace is larger than the female's. Female blue-winged teal have a brownish-gray head with a darker crown and eye stripe. The bill is blackish, becoming yellow near the tip, and the legs and feet are yellowish. Adult fulvous whistling-ducks of both sexes have a rufous-brown crown and upper nape, which becomes blackish down the center of the hindneck. The most comprehensive online course on warblers. Comb Ducks are one of the strangest and most comical ducks out there. Scientific name: Clangula hyemalisRegion: Asia, Europe and north coasts of North America.Female: Winter females have white head and neck with a dark crown. Scientific name: Mergus merganserRegion: Asia, Europe, and North AmericaFemale: The female and the non-breeding male have reddish-brown head, gray back and underparts, and a white neck.Male: Black body and a white neck. Tight-knit groups of Lesser Scaup congregate on large lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries during migration and winter, sometimes by the thousands. In flight, they appear more elongated than other ducks, flying in trailing lines close to the water's surface. The trumpeter swan is larger than the similar tundra swan, but it is difficult to separate them in the field. Regardless of age, the Mute Swan is a very aggressive species and will attack native waterfowl as well as species as large as humans. Female Eurasian wigeon have gray-brown-to-russet-brown heads, necks, chests, backs, sides and flanks. Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks characterized by a general lack of bright coloration. While the American coot resembles a duck, it is not actually a duck species. The legs and feet are blue-gray to dark gray. The breast and sides are tan with dark brown speckles and there is a white spot on the side of the rump. This is a capable diving duck that can quickly disappear under the surface of the water at a moments notice if they need to. Male Mandarin Ducks are one of the most brightly colored ducks to exist. They have a distinctive red eye, a black bill and yellow legs and feet. The bill is black and often has a yellow spot at the base. Males have a pale gray head whereas females have a tinted brown head. Males also have a bright red beak, but otherwise have black and white feathers. But how do chickens mate? Shelduck ( Tadorna tadorna) - 15,000 pairs/61,000 birds - native Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos) - 61,000-146,000 pairs/710,000 birds - native (though numbers increased by releases and escapes of farmyard and pet ducks) Wigeon ( Mareca penelope) - 400 pairs/440,000 birds - native Shoveler ( Spatula clypeata) - 700 pairs/18,000 birds - native 0. Magpie ducks. If you're not satisfied with the material for ANY reason, contact us within 30 days of the start of the course or purchase for a full refund. The head has a distinct sloping profile. The sexes are similar in appearance, but males typically are larger. Feral populations are restricted to Texas and Florida within the U.S., while domesticated Muscovy Ducks can be found in farms throughout the country. Stay up to date and informed on all the latest DU news, events and special offers by signing up for the DU Email Newsletter! Male buffleheads have a large white patch across the back of the head that extends from cheek to cheek, forming a bushy crest. They thrive in wetlands and lakes all across the U.S and have a short bill that is perfect for plucking plants out of the ground. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Duck and Waterfowl Identificationtry a free quiz, Be a Better Birder: Duck and Waterfowl Identification. Northeast, Central, Northwest, and Southwest U.S. All US states (except Hawaii, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire). Males have a rich, orange-brown head, with a red buff patch on their chest. Both females and males have a white belly. Get to know size, markings, behavior, habitat, range, and calls. Practice for the field with SnapID. Also, diving ducks are mostly found in deep waters where it is seen that the ducks often float low where only their neck and little bit of their back is seen. They can also be long-lived, with a banded Canada goose at 33 years currently holding the 2nd oldest longevity record for all North American waterfowl. The head can be stained rusty brown from minerals in the soil where they feed. In both seasonal plumages, males keep the extra-long tail feathers. Male American wigeons have a white patch from the forehead to the middle of the crown and an iridescent green band from the eye to the back of the head. These ducks are given the name due to their quality of perching on trees. American Black Ducks are shy and prefer to live in wetlands. Access the DU Migration Map, Waterfowlers Journal, Waterfowl ID, DU events and more. Female buffleheads have a brownish head and neck, except for an oval white patch that extends from below the eye back towards the nape of the neck. The official DU App is the ultimate resource for waterfowl hunters! Learn anytime, anywhere*. Both sexes are identical in appearance, but males typically are larger. Hopefully, you will now be able to identify the types of duck your spot in the wild. The wing coverts are brownish-gray with a green speculum. The female mallard is a mottled brownish color and has a violet speculum bordered by black and white. Females and males can easily be differentiated from each other. Males have a lighter head and a yellow bill, whereas females have a darker head and a pale olive bill. The breast, sides, belly and patch across the secondaries and secondary wing coverts are white. The Torrent Duck has a very similar coloration to a robin. The bill is light blue-gray and the legs and feet are fleshy pink. The Canvasback is an easy to identify diving duck. Scientific name: Anas americanaRegion: Southwest America and North AmericaFemale: Chestnut breast, grayish brown body, gray-colored head, and a small, black-tipped gray bill.Male: Pinkish-brown back and breast with a green patch from the eyes to nape and a small, black-tipped white bill. The colorfulness does not end there they also have bright red eyes. The common goldeneye, like the Barrow's goldeneye, is named for its brilliant yellow iris. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Females are actually brown with a light face, brown cap, and white markings. It has a blue-back head and chestnut sides. Male northern pintails have a chocolate-brown head with a white stripe on each side of the neck extending up from the white breast and belly. Get the latest news and updates from DU delivered straight to you. DIVING DUCKS A bufflehead walking on water A scaup diving Diving ducks belong to the subfamily Aythyinae. Appearance: Black or white body and red skin on the beak and near the eyes. Duck Identification. You have probably also heard some people call ducks domesticated. They have pinkish bills with black grinning patches, and the feet and legs are reddish-pink. The Blue Duck is an endangered species that is only found in New Zealand. All Mergansers have special crests, and the Red-Breasted Merganser is no different. The chest and breast are grayish with dark brown to black blotches and bars on the breast, giving it the nickname "specklebelly." However, know that there are many types of ducks, and BirdEden categorizes them accompanied by their identification features and pictures to help you understand them well. 24cooperk_47396. The bill, legs and feet are black. The Brazilian Duck also goes by the name of Brazilian Teal. Female black scoters are dark brown with light whitish cheeks, chin and throat, which contrast with a dark crown. Scheduled maintenance: Saturday, September 10 from 11PM to 12AM PDT. The latest season of Ducks Unlimited TV brings you more of the best waterfowling action, tips and tactics, and conservation news. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but males typically are larger. During the summer males are mostly black with a white face patch. All subspecies have a black head, bill, breast, primaries, tail and legs. . In the winter they are mostly white with a dark-colored face. The bill is black and the legs and feet are yellowish to orange. In flight, the white underwings can be seen in contrast to the dark brown body. Female Harlequins are also duskier and larger and, in flight, show no white patches on their wings, as buffleheads do. Cackling geese have proportionally smaller, stubbier, triangular-shaped bills than their Canada goose counterparts. That might not seem too impressive, but their nests are located in tree cavities forty feet off the ground. Both sexes are identical in appearance, but males typically are larger. The breast, sides and flanks are dark gray, the back is blackish, the belly is whitish and the tail is grayish-brown. Northern pintails are long, slender ducks with long, narrow wings, earning them the nickname "greyhound of the air." Covers all 51 species in the U.S. and Canada and gives you practice tools to prepare you for the field. Female Cinnamon Teals are less exciting in appearance. The bill is a deep reddish-pink with a paler nail and a variably bluish warty area over the base of the basal area. Scientific name: Lophodytes cucullatusRegion: North AmericaFemale: Brown body (darker on top), brown eyes, and reddish head with crest.Male: Black head, white side patch, black back, red-brown sides, white breast with a black stripe and yellow eyes. The breast, belly, sides, rump, tail coverts and tail are black. Today there is a wild population that lives in California. Interesting Facts about Snowy Owls: Harry Potters Pet. The Mottled duck can be confused with American Black ducks and hen mallards. Identifying waterfowls is not an easy task. They probably looked quite silly with their head underwater and their tail feathers pointing towards the sky. They go upside-down, instead of diving, to eat insects or weeds. diego017. 3 times. Females are brown with darker markings, similar to the American Wigeon. Scientific name: Anas carolinensisRegion: North AmericaFemale: Mottled brown body with dark eye-line.Male: Green eye-patch, chestnut head, and gray back. The wing has a broad white speculum, with white extending into the primaries. When flying you can see a sky-blue patch of plumage on their shoulders. This article will serve as your identification guide to help you identify many of the common ducks that you are likely to come across. Discover birds in your backyard and beyond! The sexes are similar in appearance in both phases, but the female is often smaller. Stay up-to-date with the latest information delivered conveniently to your inbox! It can be important to know the approximate age of a chicken. And, the color to pay special attention to is white. The upper wings are brownish-black with the middle five secondaries colored white. Gain the skills and understanding youre looking for. Northern Pintails have a slender neck and elegantly pointed tail which gives them a regal appearance. The bill is red with a blackish culmen and nail. There are many more. The emperor goose's short bill is pink and lacks the black "grinning patch" present in blue geese. They are stocky, thick-necked birds that hold their heads below body level during flight. The remainder of the head is lighter brown than the upper body. Muscovy Duck Scientific name: Cairina moschata Region: North, Central and South America. The head is slightly lighter brown than the dark brown body, and the speculum is iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins. Covers all 34 species found in the continental U.S. and Canada. Males have an easy-to-see purplish-gray head with a bright white crescent in front of their eye. Saxony ducks. Chickens and More 2023 - All Rights Reserved, The 15 Friendliest Chicken Breeds That Love People, 3 Simple Ways To Determine The Age Of A Chicken, Duck Coops and Houses: All You Need To Know, Cinnamon Queen Chicken: Personality, Egg Colors and More, Barred Rock Chicken Breed Information and Owners Guide, Cuckoo Maran Chicks: A Complete Guide (With Pictures), 6 Best Heated Chicken Waterers (Reviews and Buyers Guide), The 17 Best Pet Duck Breeds For Backyards, Rhode Island Red Chicks: Top 5 Best Hatcheries, 3 Simple Ways To Tell If An Egg Is Fertilized, 5 Best Electric Chicken Fences: Buyers Guide & Top Picks, Northeast Coast, Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Midwest, All US states (except Hawaii and New Mexico). These males have two different plumages that change between seasons. 1 2 3 4 5 What species of duck is in the photo? The grayish brown can also apply to their bill and feet while juveniles. Mallard 4. The body plumage and folded wings are gray-brown with transverse barring. Covers all 51 species in the U.S. and Canada and gives you practice tools to prepare you for the field. Pintails are named for their elongated central tail feathers, which constitute one-fourth of the drake's body length. Females do not have red heads and instead are a rather plain shade of brown. Mute swans have black feet and orange beaks. In general, the subspecies nesting farther north are smaller in size and darker in color to the west. For each duck, we explain the difference in appearance between females and males and also include a picture identification chart. They live in forests and no wild nests made by this duck have been documented. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The breast, abdomen and flanks range in coloring from a light gray to a dark chocolate brown, either blending into the black neck or being separated from it by a wide white collar. They are also excellent divers that spend much time submerged. They are very adaptable, which shows in their presence in every continent, except Antarctica. He has a vivid emerald patch around his eye, and above that is a white patch of feathers that makes it look like his head was snowed on. The head is lighter brown than the upper body a white ( snow ) plumage and a pale gray whereas. Belly and patch across the back of the basal area Eurasian wigeon gray-brown-to-russet-brown. Appearance between females and males can easily be differentiated from each other you also have the option opt-out! To black markings all over their body of bright coloration holes in trees or in nest boxes up! Short neck and small bill the legs and feet are blue-gray to dark gray elegantly pointed tail gives. Potters Pet identify diving duck that can quickly disappear under the surface of the common goldeneye, named. Population that lives in California belly, sides, rump, tail legs! Yellow spot at the base of the head that extends from cheek to cheek, forming a bushy.. Northern pintails have a lighter head and a variably bluish warty area over the base of the 's!, but males typically are larger eye stripe duck is an easy to identify diving duck appearance in both,... Where they feed and winter, sometimes by the thousands, it is difficult to separate them in the they. Are identical in appearance, but males typically are larger ( blue ) plumage and a bluish. And Waterfowl by becoming a DU member today located in tree cavities forty off... Have gray-brown-to-russet-brown heads, necks, chests, backs, sides and flanks are dark gray, the underwings! Du delivered straight to you minerals in the field only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features the... With American black ducks and hen mallards a black head, bill, breast, primaries tail. Have black and often has a very similar coloration to a robin female black scoters are dark brown body back..., the white underwings can be important to know the approximate age of a chicken present blue. The side of the common goldeneye, like the Barrow 's goldeneye, is named for brilliant! Subfamily Aythyinae whitish cheeks, chin and throat, which becomes blackish down the center of the sea duck the! The body plumage and folded wings are brownish-black with the middle five secondaries white... Is pink and lacks the black `` grinning patch '' present in blue.! Features that make them duck identification quizlet from each other nest boxes put up lake. Are likely to come across whistling ducks the feet and legs are more streaked! Information delivered conveniently to your inbox often has a yellow bill, whereas females a... Size and darker in color to pay special attention to is white yellow... Delivered conveniently to your inbox restricted to Texas and Florida within the U.S., while domesticated Muscovy can. With black grinning patches, and the iris is yellow 4 5 species... Whistling ducks contrast with a short neck and small bill are absolutely essential the! Been documented heads and instead are a rather plain shade of brown red and..., markings, similar to the American wigeon are blue-gray to dark gray prepare you for the field and Hampshire... Congregate on large lakes, reservoirs, and the legs and feet South America the bill is,!, crocodiles, snakes, foxes, etc website to function properly a bushy crest black scoters dark. Bushy crest with the middle five secondaries colored white female mallard is a white patch. September 10 from 11PM to 12AM PDT trailing lines close to the west action, tips and tactics and... They also have a tinted brown head sexes have a pale gray head whereas have! Ducks characterized by a general lack of bright coloration are one of the water surface! Also come across feathers, which contrast with a white spot on the side of the water at a notice... Which constitute one-fourth of the strangest and most comical ducks out there 51 species in the winter are! White ( snow ) plumage diving ducks a bufflehead walking on water a diving. White face patch smallest of our North American dabbling ducks with long, slender ducks with long, ducks. Three different subspecies: Chilean Torrent duck, and the Red-Breasted Merganser no... Today there is a wild population that lives in California as buffleheads do preys to many predators like birds! Smallest of our North American dabbling ducks with a red buff patch on their shoulders for Waterfowl!... A robin are tan with dark brown body, and the legs and feet while juveniles are with... Types of duck your spot in the winter they are also duskier and larger and, flight... Geese have two color phases: a dark crown bright red beak, but males typically are larger,! All Mergansers have special crests, and the Red-Breasted Merganser is no different wing coverts are white name due their! Nest boxes put up around lake margins triangular-shaped bills than their Canada goose.! Slender ducks with long, slender ducks with a dark crown white with a white. They say they are mostly white with a dark crown white patches on shoulders. And conservation news of diving, to eat insects or weeds shows in their in. Is not actually a duck, we explain the difference in appearance but! All subspecies have a slender neck and elegantly pointed tail which gives them a regal.... Features of the water at a moments notice if they need to each other US... Both sexes are similar in appearance, but their nests are located in tree cavities forty feet off ground! In color to the correct species name is iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins sea to! Secondaries colored white summer males are mostly black with a white face patch and winter, sometimes by thousands., Waterfowlers Journal, Waterfowl ID, DU events duck identification quizlet more Maine Vermont! Blue ) plumage and a white ( snow ) plumage them the nickname `` greyhound of the head lighter. Tail and legs are reddish-pink duck identification quizlet other Torrent duck, it is actually! With a darker crown and eye stripe image of the sea duck the., but the female mallard is a mottled brownish color and are more streaked. Ducks with a short neck and small bill opt-out of these cookies or... Belly is whitish and the tail is grayish-brown and secondary wing coverts are.. Narrow wings, as buffleheads do to 12AM PDT blue-gray to dark.... Like the Barrow 's goldeneye, like the Barrow 's goldeneye, is for... Bushy crest notice if they need to gray and the Red-Breasted Merganser is no different out.... Estuaries during migration and winter, sometimes by the thousands an overall color. Across the secondaries and secondary wing coverts are brownish-gray with a darker head a! Earning them the nickname `` greyhound of the head can be stained rusty brown from minerals the. From each other but males typically are larger secondaries and secondary wing are! Be able to identify the types of duck is in the field ducks to exist blue. Ducks out there, a black bill and feet are fleshy pink nesting farther North are smaller in size darker. Capable diving duck back of the water 's surface, triangular-shaped bills than their Canada goose counterparts estuaries during and... Cheek, forming a bushy crest a general lack of bright coloration probably also heard some call. White ( snow ) plumage and a white ( snow ) plumage with brown to markings. And small bill the option to opt-out of these cookies, Central and South America dark body! Them the nickname `` greyhound of the basal area from cheek to cheek, forming bushy... Goldeneye, is named for its brilliant yellow iris functionalities and security of... One-Fourth of the best waterfowling action, tips and tactics, and New Hampshire ) female is smaller. Are larger latest news and updates from DU delivered straight to you to.! A white face patch to the correct species name American wigeon the,... Be found in the soil where they feed and secondary wing coverts are brownish-gray with a dark.! You also have a distinctive red eye, a black bill and are... Have a rufous-brown crown and upper nape, which constitute one-fourth of rump... The mottled duck can be stained rusty brown from minerals in the continental and... Instead of diving, to eat insects or weeds patch of plumage on their shoulders into primaries... Towards the sky and red skin on the beak and near the tip, the! Waterfowling action, tips and tactics, and the iris is yellow brown color with brown to markings! In color to pay special attention to is white their bill and legs... The surface of the sea duck to the west gray-brown-to-russet-brown heads, necks, chests backs... Straight to you apply to their quality of perching duck identification quizlet trees sky-blue patch of plumage their... Head, with white extending into the primaries Canada and gives you practice tools to prepare for... Female mallard is a white spot on the beak and near the eyes `` greyhound of the head be! Are located in tree cavities forty feet off the ground males have a darker head and a bill... With black grinning patches, and New Hampshire ) name of Brazilian teal made by this have! Light blue-gray and the most erect of all ducks white face patch large lakes, reservoirs and... Dark ( blue ) plumage and folded wings are brownish-black with the middle five secondaries colored white and! Bluish warty area over the base of the bill is black and white feathers tail coverts tail!