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Duck | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica

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Ducks - Key Information, Facts & Pictures Of Ducks

s - Key Information, Facts & Pictures Of Ducks Animal CornerDiscover the many amazing animals that live on our planet.HomeA-Z AnimalsAnatomyGlossaryAnimal ListsAnimal By LetterAnimals by LocationMammalsBirdsReptilesAmphibiansSpirit AnimalsFree ResourcesAnimal Coloring PagesAnimal JokesAnimal QuizzesPetsDog BreedsRabbit BreedsCat BreedsPet RodentsAnimal CareBlogYou are here: Home / Animals / DucksDucksImage SourceDucks are birds. Ducks are also called ‘Waterfowl’ because they are normally found in places where there is water like ponds, streams and rivers.Ducks are related to Geese and Swans in the Anatidae family. Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons (an aquatic bird found in many parts of North America and northern Europe) or grebes (freshwater diving birds) and coots (medium-sized water birds which are members of the Rail Bird family).Duck CharacteristicsDucks are smaller than than their relatives (swans and geese). Ducks also have shorter necks and wings and a stout body.A female duck is called a ‘hen’, they are identified by their very-dull, brown feathers. The females have dull-brown feathers so that they can hide from enemies and predators. They can also camouflage themselves in their nests and also protect their young.A male duck is called a ‘drake’, you can identify the male duck by its brightly colored feathers. They use these colored feathers to attract the female ducks for mating. Here is a beautifully colored Drake with a purple plumage, shiny green head coloring, silvery white body and grey wings with blue markings.FeaturesThe males use their colorful plumage to attract females. However, they will lose or molt their colorful feathers when the females are busy hatching the eggs. The males will now look like the female in color and will be unable to fly temporarily. They will molt again in early Autumn and get back their colorful feathers and be able to fly again. The females also molt. They replace all their feathers and get new ones after their ducklings are hatched.Ducks have webbed feet, which are designed for swimming. Their webbed feet act like paddles for the ducks. The reason ducks can swim in cold water is their amazing circulatory system. Their blood vessels are laid out very close to each other in their legs and feet in a network that allows the warm and cool blood to exchange heat.This allows the warm blood going from the body into the feet to warm the cooler blood re-entering the body from the feet, and the blood going to the feet is cooled enough that the cold does not bother the duck. Thus the duck’s feet are able to tolerate the cold and not bother them. All birds have this circulatory system in their legs and feet.A duck has water-proof feathers. There is a special gland called the ‘Preen Gland’ near the ducks tail. This tiny gland produces oil which the duck uses to coat its feathers.The duck picks up the oil with its head and beak, and then smears it all over its body to make the outer feathers waterproof. Without this protective barrier, a ducks feathers would become water-logged and because they spend their whole lives around and in water, this water-proof barrier is extremely important. Beneath the water-proof coat are fluffy and soft feathers which keep the duck warm.The ducks mouth is called a beak or bill. It is usually broad and flat and has rows of fine notches along the edge called ‘lamellae’. The lamellae helps the duck to grip its food so that it will not slip off.However, ducks beak comes in different shapes and sizes. The shape of the beak and body determines how the duck will hunt for its food.Duck BehaviourDucks keep clean by preening themselves. Ducks do this by putting their heads in funny positions and putting their beaks into their body. Ducks preen themselves very often. Preening also removes parasites, removes scales which cover newly sprouting feathers and also involves the removal of spreading oil over clean feathers.Duck HabitatsMany species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting. Ducks seek out protected habitats with a good food supply during this period. They usually moult before migrating.Ducks are found in wetlands, marshes, ponds, rivers, lakes and oceans. This is because ducks love the water. Some species of ducks migrate or travel longs distances every year to breed. Ducks usually travel to warmer areas or where the water does not freeze so that they can rest and raise their young. The distance may be thousands of miles away. Ducks are found everywhere in the world except the Antartica which is too cold for them.Duck Life SpanDucks can live from 2 – 20 years, depending on species and whether they are wild ducks or ducks in captivity. Its a fact that a wild duck can live 20 years or more. Domestic ducks typically live 10 – 15 years in captivity. The world record is a Mallard Drake that lived to a ripe old age of 27 years.Ducks and their feeding habitsShovelers – these ducks have broad beaks and sift their food for insects, nails and seed from the mud.Diving ducks and Sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. These ducks have long and narrow beaks. Their narrow beaks are also covered will saw-like edges which help them to grab fish.Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging. Their beaks are broad and short. Dabbling ducks have tiny rows of plates along the inside of the beak called ‘lamellae’ like a whales baleen.These let them filter water out of the side of their beaks and keep food inside. Dabbling ducks eat plants, seeds, grasses and other small insects and animals that they find on or under the water. Usually they stick their tails in the air and stretch their heads into the water to reach their food.Dabblers usually have shiny colored patches on their wings. The domestic ducks are dabblers too. They are descendants of the Mallards. Dabbling ducks take off from the water in quick jumps. Ducks with longer necks dive with their head down into the shallow water and pick up their food.Duck ReproductionDucks usually look for a mate or partner in winter. Male ducks will attract the female ducks with their colorful plumage or feathers. The female ducks will then lead the male ducks to their breeding ground in spring. The breeding ground will usually be the place where the female duck was hatched. The female duck builds her nest with grass or reeds or even in a hole in a tree.The male duck will guard their territory by chasing away other couples. Once the female lays 5 – 12 eggs, she will sit on her eggs to keep them warm so that they can hatch into ducklings. The male ducks on the other hand, will be with the other male ducks.The eggs will hatch within 28 days normally, except for the Muscovy duck which takes about 35 days to hatch.The mother duck will keep her brood of ducklings together to protect them from predators. Animals like the raccoon, turtles, hawks, large fish and snakes are a ducks main predators and they will eat the ducklings. Ducklings are able to fly within 5 – 8 weeks. Their feathers develop very fast.When the young are ready to fly, all the ducks will gather in flocks on large lakes, marshes or the ocean to migrate to their wintering home. When the ducks fly, they usually do so in a ‘V-shaped’ or a long line.Domestic Duck Breeds vs Wild Duck SpeciesDomestic ducks are those that have been bred for specific traits such as size, color, temperament, and egg-laying ability. They are typically larger than their wild counterparts and have been bred to be more docile, making them suitable for livestock farming for meat or eggs, or as pets.Domestic ducks originated from wild ducks, more specifically from 2 particular breeds – the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata). Most, if not all domestic duck ‘breeds’ originate from these two ‘species’. Over time, humans selectively bred these ducks for specific traits, leading to the wide variety of domestic duck breeds we have today.There are many different species of wild ducks, on the other hand. They live in natural environments around the globe, not selectively bred by humans. They are typically smaller, faster, and more agile than domestic ducks, and they retain their natural instincts for survival in the wild.Interesting Duck FactsA hen makes a loud QUACK sound while the drake has a raspy, muffled call.Touching a duckling does not prevent the mother duck from taking care of it. It is however best to leave ducklings alone so as not to scare the mother duck away or accidentally injure them.Ducks sleep with half their brains awake. Ducks are more likely to sleep with one eye open when they are located on the edge of sleeping groups. Ducks can detect predators in less than a second.Duck eggshells have tiny holes (pores) that allow it to breathe. A hen’s eggs can have 7500 pores, most found at the blunt end of the egg. Respiratory gasses as well as water vapour travel through these pores allowing the egg to breathe.Baby ducks are precocial meaning they are born with their eyes wide open, with a warm layer of down and are not fully dependant on their parents for food. Ducklings are ready to leave the nest within hours of hatching.A ‘clutch’ is the total number of eggs laid by one bird during one nesting session. Clutch size affected by hereditary and environmental factors. When food is abundant, birds lay more eggs.A brood is the total number of hatchlings, or ducklings in a clutch.Ducks have very good vision and they see in color.Learn how to keep ducks at homeWhat is a female duck called?A female duck is called a ‘hen’, they are identified by their very-dull, brown feathers. The females have dull-brown feathers so that they can hide from enemies and predators. They can also camouflage themselves in their nests and also protect their young.What are baby ducks called?A baby duck is called a duckling. A group of ducklings is called a brood.Where do ducks sleep?Most species of Duck sleep floating on water. Some ducks such as mallards can roost on lands or water.Popular Domestic Duck Breeds (Anas platyrhynchos domestica)Pekin DuckRouen DuckCrested DuckAylesbury DuckKhaki Campbell DuckSaxony DuckBuff Orpington DuckWelsh Harlequin DuckMagpie DuckWild Duck Species ListSpecies NameScientific/ Binominal NameIUCN StatusAfrican Black DuckAnas sparsaLeast ConcernAfrican Pygmy GooseNettapus auritusLeast ConcernAmerican Black DuckAnas rubripesLeast Concern (population decreasing)American White Winged ScoterMelanitta deglandiLeast ConcernAmerican Wigeon/BaldpateMareca americanaLeast ConcernAndean TealAnas andiumLeast ConcernAuckland TealAnas aucklandicaNear ThreatenedAustralasian ShovelerSpatula rhynchotisLeast ConcernAustralian ShelduckTadorna tadornoidesLeast ConcernAustralian Wood DuckChenonetta jubataLeast ConcernBaer’s PochardAythya baeriCritically EndangeredBaikal TealAnas formosaLeast ConcernBarrow’s GoldeneyeBucephala islandicaLeast ConcernBlack ScoterMelanitta americanaNear ThreatenedBlack-Bellied Whistling-duckDendrocygna autumnalisLeast ConcernBlack-Headed DuckHeteronetta atricapillaLeast ConcernBlue DuckHymenolaimus malacorhynchosEndangeredBlue-Billed DuckOxyura australisLeast Concern (local listings of vulnerable in NSW and threatened in Victoria)Blue-Winged GooseCyanochen cyanopteraNear ThreatenedBlue-Winged TealAnas discorsLeast ConcernBrazilian MerganserMergus octosetaceusCritically EndangeredBrazilian TealAmazonetta brasiliensisLeast ConcernBronze Winged Duck/ Spectacled DuckSpeculanas specularisNear ThreatenedBrown TealAnas chlorotisNear ThreatenedBuffleheadBucephala albeolaLeast ConcernCampbell Islands TealAnas nesiotisVulnerableCanvasbackAythya valisineriaLeast ConcernCape ShovelerAnas smithiiLeast ConcernCape TealAnas capensisLeast ConcernChestnut TealAnas castaneaLeast ConcernChiloe WigeonAnas sibilatrixLeast ConcernCinnamon TealAnas cyanopteraLeast ConcernComb DuckSarkidiornis melanotosLeast ConcernCommon EiderSomateria mollissimaLeast ConcernCommon GoldeneyeBucephala clangulaLeast ConcernCommon MerganserMergus merganserLeast ConcernCommon PochardAythya ferinaLeast ConcernCommon ScoterMelanitta nigraLeast ConcernCommon ShelduckTadorna tadornaLeast ConcernCommon TealAnas creccaLeast ConcernCotton Pygmy-GooseNettapus coromandelianusLeast ConcernCrested DuckLophonetta specularioidesLeast ConcernCrested ShelduckTadorna cristataCritically EndangeredEastern Spot-Billed DuckAnas zonorhynchaLeast ConcernEaton’s PintailAnas eatoniVulnerableEgyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaLeast ConcernEurasian WigeonAnas penelopeLeast ConcernFalcated DuckMareca falcataNear ThreatenedFalkland SteamerduckTachyeres brachypterusLeast ConcernFerruginous DuckAythya nyrocaNear ThreatenedFlightless SteamerduckTachyeres pteneresLeast ConcernFlying SteamerduckTachyeres patachonicusLeast ConcernFreckled DuckStictonetta naevosaLeast ConcernFulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolorLeast ConcernGadwallAnas streperaLeast ConcernGalapagos White Cheeked Pintail/ Bahama PintailAnas bahamensisLeast ConcernGarganeyAnas querquedulaLeast ConcernCommon NameScientific NameLeast ConcernGreater ScaupAythya marilaLeast ConcernGreen Pygmy-GooseNettapus pulchellusLeast ConcernGrey TealAnas gracilisLeast ConcernHardheadAythya australisLeast ConcernHarlequin DuckHistrionicus histrionicusLeast ConcernHartlaub’s DuckPteronetta hartlaubiiLeast ConcernHawaiian DuckAnas wyvillianaEndangeredHooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatusLeast ConcernHottentot TealAnas hottentotaLeast ConcernKelp GooseChloephaga hybridaLeast ConcernKing EiderSomateria spectabilisLeast ConcernLake DuckOxyura vittataLeast ConcernLaysan DuckAnas laysanensisCritically EndangeredLesser ScaupAythya affinisLeast ConcernLesser Whistling-DuckDendrocygna javanicaLeast ConcernLong-Tailed Duck/ OldsquawClangula hyemalisVulnerableMaccoa DuckOxyura maccoaEndangeredMadagascan PochardAythya innotataCritically EndangeredMadagascar Teal/ Bernier’s TealAnas bernieriEndangeredMallardAnas platyrhynchosLeast ConcernMandarin DuckAix galericulataLeast ConcernMarbled TealMarmaronetta angustirostrisNear ThreatenedMasked DuckNomonyx dominicusLeast ConcernMeller’s DuckAnas melleriEndangeredMottled DuckAnas fulvigulaLeast ConcernMuscovy DuckCairina moschataLeast ConcernMusk DuckBiziura lobataLeast ConcernNew Zealand ScaupAythya novaeseelandiaeLeast ConcernNorthern PintailAnas acutaLeast ConcernNorthern ShovelerAnas clypeataLeast ConcernOrinoco GooseNeochen jubataNear ThreatenedPacific Black DuckAnas superciliosaVulnerableParadise ShelduckTadorna variegataLeast ConcernPhilippine DuckAnas luzonicaLeast ConcernPink-Eared DuckMalacorhynchus membranaceusLeast ConcernPink-Headed DuckRhodonessa caryophyllaceaCritically EndangeredPlumed Whistling-DuckDendrocygna eytoniLeast ConcernPuna TealAnas punaLeast ConcernRadjah ShelduckTadorna radjahLeast ConcernRed ShovelerAnas plataleaLeast ConcernRed-Billed DuckAnas erythrorhynchaLeast ConcernRed-Breasted MerganserMergus serratorLeast ConcernRed-Crested PochardNetta rufinaLeast ConcernRedheadAythya americanaLeast ConcernRing-Necked DuckAythya collarisLeast ConcernRinged TealCallonetta leucophrysLeast ConcernRosy-Billed PochardNetta peposacaLeast ConcernRuddy DuckOxyura jamaicensisLeast ConcernRuddy ShelduckTadorna ferrugineaLeast ConcernSalvadori’s Teal/ Salvadori’s DuckSalvadorina waigiuensisLeast Concern (population decreasing)Scaly-Sided Merganser/ Chinese MerganserMergus squamatusEndangeredSilver TealAnas versicolorLeast ConcernSmewMergellus albellusLeast ConcernSouth African ShelduckTadorna canaLeast ConcernSouthern PochardNetta erythrophthalmaLeast ConcernCommon NameScientific NameLeast ConcernSpectacled EiderSomateria fischeriLeast ConcernSpotted Whistling-DuckDendrocygna guttataLeast ConcernSteller’s EiderPolysticta stelleriVulnerableSunda TealAnas gibberifronsLeast ConcernSurf ScoterMelanitta perspicillataLeast ConcernTorrent DuckMerganetta armataLeast ConcernTufted DuckAythya fuligulaLeast ConcernVelvet ScoterMelanitta fuscaVulnerableWandering Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arcuataLeast ConcernWest Indian Whistling-DuckDendrocygna arboreaNear ThreatenedWestern Spot-Billed DuckAnas poecilorhynchaLeast ConcernWhite-Backed DuckThalassornis leuconotusLeast ConcernWhite-Faced Whistling-duckDendrocygna viduataLeast ConcernWhite-Headed DuckOxyura leucocephalaEndangeredWhite-Headed Flightless Steamerduck/ Chubut Steamer DuckTachyeres leucocephalusVulnerableWhite-Winged Wood DuckCairina scutulataEndangeredWhite Winged ScoterMelanitta deglandiLeast ConcernWood DuckAix sponsaLeast ConcernYellow-Billed DuckAnas undulataLeast ConcernYellow-Billed PintailAnas georgicaLeast ConcernYellow-Billed TealAnas flavirostrisLeast ConcernMore Fascinating Animals to Learn AboutWater BeetleEurasian Water ShrewBritish Water VoleGalapagos White Cheeked Pintail DuckCorncrakeAtlas BeetleAbout Joanne SpencerI've always been passionate about animals which led me to a career in training and behaviour. As an animal professional I'm committed to improving relationships between people and animals to bring them more happiness.Did You Know?The production of eggs is affected by daylight. When there is more daylight, the ducks will lay more eggs. In the months of July to December when daylight is short, they slow down their production of eggs. Sometimes, ducks stop laying eggs completely during these months. To prevent this from happening, farmers use artificial lighting so that the ducks have about 17 hours of light a day to produce eggs efficiently.Animal ClassificationKingdom:AnimaliaPhylum:ChordataClass:AvesOrder:AnseriformesSuperfamily:AnatoideaFamily:AnatidaeSearchMost Popular AnimalsZebras Aquatic Warbler Atlantic DolphinsTrapdoor SpiderGiraffe MeerkatsTimber WolfPraying MantisHuntsman SpiderVampire Bat Animal Names Glossary Mammals Dog Breeds Farm Animals Best of the BlogFreshwater Marvels – 21 Awesome Animals that Live in LakesWhat are the Fastest Animals in the World?31 Animals with Funny Names and Weird Sounding Names: Humor in NatureTop 15 Deadliest Animals in the World – The Most Fatal Creatures You May EncounterOphiophagy – Examples of animals that eat snakesList of Fascinating Solitary AnimalsCopyright © 2005-2024 · Animal Corner · All Rights Reserved · Affiliate Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Animals Sitemap . About Us AnimalCorner.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Duck - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts

HomeAnimal IndexComplete List of AnimalsA – GAnimals that start with AAnimals that start with BAnimals that start with CAnimals that start with DAnimals that start with EAnimals that start with FAnimals that start with GH – NAnimals that start with HAnimals that start with IAnimals that start with JAnimals that start with KAnimals that start with LAnimals that start with MAnimals that start with NO – TAnimals that start with OAnimals that start with PAnimals that start with QAnimals that start with RAnimals that start with SAnimals that start with TU – ZAnimals that start with UAnimals that start with VAnimals that start with WAnimals that start with XAnimals that start with YAnimals that start with ZDogsParks and ZoosCitationContact Us Search HomeAnimal IndexComplete List of AnimalsA – GAnimals that start with AAnimals that start with BAnimals that start with CAnimals that start with DAnimals that start with EAnimals that start with FAnimals that start with GH – NAnimals that start with HAnimals that start with IAnimals that start with JAnimals that start with KAnimals that start with LAnimals that start with MAnimals that start with NO – TAnimals that start with OAnimals that start with PAnimals that start with QAnimals that start with RAnimals that start with SAnimals that start with TU – ZAnimals that start with UAnimals that start with VAnimals that start with WAnimals that start with XAnimals that start with YAnimals that start with ZDogsParks and ZoosCitationContact Us Animals Network HomeAnimal IndexComplete List of AnimalsA – GAnimals that start with AAnimals that start with BAnimals that start with CAnimals that start with DAnimals that start with EAnimals that start with FAnimals that start with GH – NAnimals that start with HAnimals that start with IAnimals that start with JAnimals that start with KAnimals that start with LAnimals that start with MAnimals that start with NO – TAnimals that start with OAnimals that start with PAnimals that start with QAnimals that start with RAnimals that start with SAnimals that start with TU – ZAnimals that start with UAnimals that start with VAnimals that start with WAnimals that start with XAnimals that start with YAnimals that start with ZDogsParks and ZoosCitationContact Us AnseriformesAnatidaeAvesChordataDuckBy Animals Network TeamDucks are an immense group of aquatic birds, known as waterfowl. They are in the Anatidae family, and share this family with swans and geese as well. As a group, the vast majority of these birds are smaller than swans and geese. They usually live in fresh waters like lakes and ponds, but some species live in brackish or salt water. Read on to learn about the duck. Description of the DuckIt is virtually impossible to describe these, because there are just so many different kinds! The stereotypical “duck” has a torpedo shaped body, rounded head, and a slightly flattened and rounded bill. Some species are quite small, while others are larger, but they are smaller than geese and swans. They also have relatively long necks, but again, shorter than geese and swans. The largest species is the Muscovy duck, which grows up to nine pounds.Interesting Facts About the DuckThere are just so many different species of these interesting waterfowl, so Instead of throwing random facts at you, we will highlight some of the most unique duck species around below!Mandarin Duck – Mandarin ducks are elegantly beautiful. Their feathers, or plumage, have several different colors and patterns. Those colors are not drastically bright, but they are incredibly cohesive and beautiful. These birds look like a home designer carefully chose which sections to paint in order to create a cohesive package!White-Faced Whistling Duck – This species is exactly what it sounds like. Their faces have white feathers, and their vocalization is a high-pitched whistle. What makes this species so interesting is that vocalization we just mentioned. When these birds call to one another, they sound exactly like a squeaky toy.Ruddy Duck – Ruddies have bright blue bills, and oddly stiff tails. In fact, they are part of a group called “stiff-tailed ducks.” The ruddy’s bright blue bill fades once the breeding season is over and the females have been thoroughly impressed.King Eider – This species is a duck, but you wouldn’t know by looking at them! The males have an odd bulbous crest on their heads, known as a “knob.” This knob is bright yellow, and there isn’t a single, non-dinosaur species to compare this duck’s head to!Habitat of the DuckThere are many different species of these birds, and they live in a wide variety of habitats. These creatures are waterfowl, and of course live in regions with water, and acquire most of their food in and around the water.They inhabit lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, retention ponds, wetlands, marshes, bays, and more. Different species have different habitat preferences.Distribution of the DuckDucks live virtually across the globe, and some species even range into sub-Antarctic and Arctic regions as well. Various species live in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, India, Africa, Australia, and more. Some species live across entire continents, while others live on just a single island. Each individual species has its own range and distribution.Diet of the DuckDifferent ducks have different diets. Some species are primarily herbivores, and eat mostly plants. Other species are mostly carnivorous, and hunt for fish, insects, and small animals. Many species eat both, and are omnivorous.Ducks have two feeding strategies, some dabble for food and others dive. Dabbling ducks usually do not dive below the surface, but simply tip upside down and use their long necks to reach their food underwater. Conversely, diving ducks dive all the way underwater to search for food!Duck and Human InteractionHumans and ducks interact in many different ways. We have domesticated some species for food, eggs, feathers, and as pets. Hunters find other wild species popular for sport and for their meat and feathers.Humans are destroying the habitats of some species of these birds as well. The various human interactions cause different levels of threat to different species. Some are incredibly common and widespread, others incredibly rare.DomesticationHumans have domesticated some species of ducks. From these species, we have developed many different breeds in a variety of sizes and colors. We keep domestic ducks for food, eggs, pets, and for their feathers. Humans domesticated two primary species into the breeds we know today, the mallard duck and the Muscovy duck.Does the Duck Make a Good PetYes, some species make good pets, but only to the right people, and they should never be household pets. They need lots of space to graze and search for food, and plenty of water to swim in. Wild duck species are never good pets. Domesticated species are friendlier and easier to raise.Duck CareProviding for domestic ducks is slightly more difficult than some other types of poultry. These birds need plenty of space, and also plenty of water. They should have a large water body to swim in, and clean water to drink out of.It is important to protect your waterfowl from predators as well, using protective fencing and enclosures to roost in. Many different companies have produced a wide variety of pelleted feeds for these birds.Behavior of the DuckBehavior varies from species to species. Many species are very social, and they live in groups called “flocks,” and they swim, roost, and forage for food together. Other species are less social, and either live alone or in pairs. Ducks communicate using a wide variety of sounds. While some “quack,” the vast majority do not. Some whistle, squeak, grunt, hiss, and more.Reproduction of the DuckMany species of these waterfowl reproduce with one mate per season. Other species mate with one partner for life. Most species build their nests close to the water, and some even use hollows in trees as their nests.Once their babies, called “ducklings,” hatch, the female leads them to the water. Female ducks protect their ducklings and lead them to food until they are old enough to fend for themselves.Beliefs, Superstitions, and Phobias About the DuckPerhaps the largest duck-based superstition, or rumor, is that duck quacks don’t echo. Scientists have debunked this on several occasions, and ducks’ quacks do echo. Regardless, there is virtually no consequence if a duck’s call has an echo or not.TAGSduckducklingCydni Oldham RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR ArtiodactylaRed Angus ChordataPaint Horse ActinopterygiiBlack Sole Expert Recommendations Dog CareBest Dog Shampoo Dog CareBest Dog Food Dog CareBest Dog Food for Weight Loss Dog CareBest Vacuum for Dog Hair Dog CareBest Dog Nail Grinder Dog CareBest Dog Costumes Dog CareBest Raw Dog Food Dog CareBest Dog Shampoo for Dry Skin Expert RecommendationBest Cat Stain Odor Remover Dog CareBest Dog DoorAnimals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image.EVEN MORE NEWSRed AngusPaint HorseHouse SpiderPOPULAR CATEGORYChordata694Mammalia247Aves197Dog Breeds184Actinopterygii121Reptilia87Carnivora72Privacy PolicyContact UsAbout UsTerms and Conditions © Animals.NET 2018

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Waterfowl ID

Waterfowl ID - Learn About All Types of Ducks & Waterfowl

Your guide to waterfowl identification, behaviors, and habitats

Dabbling DucksView All

Mallard

The mallard is one of the most recognized of all ducks and is the ancestor of several domestic breeds. Its wide range has given rise to several distinct populations. The male mallard's white neck-ring separates the green head from the chestnut-brown chest, contrasts with the gray sides, brownish back, black rump and black upper- and under-tail coverts. The speculum is violet-blue bordered by black and white, and the outer tail feathers are white. The bill is yellow to yellowish-green and the legs and feet are coral-red. The female mallard is a mottled brownish color and has a violet speculum bordered by black and white. The crown of the head is dark brown with a dark brown stripe running through the eye. The remainder of the head is lighter brown than the upper body. The bill is orange splotched with brown, and the legs and feet are orange.

American Black Duck

American black ducks are similar to mallards in size, and resemble the female mallard in coloration, though the black duck's plumage is darker. The male and female black duck are similar in appearance, but the male's bill is yellow while the female's is a dull green. The head is slightly lighter brown than the dark brown body, and the speculum is iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins. In flight, the white underwings can be seen in contrast to the dark brown body.

Mottled Duck

The Mottled duck can be confused with American Black ducks and hen mallards. While both drakes and hens have very similar plumages, the hen is a slightly lighter shade of brown. The mottled duck is a lighter color than the black duck and its blue to green iridescent wing patches (compared to a purple iridescence in black ducks) are rimmed with black (sometimes with a narrow band of white) rather than a distinct white edge as on the hen mallard. The mottled duck is a southern species found all along the entire Gulf Coast and the southern Atlantic Coast. The bill of the drake is solid yellow, while the hen has more of a yellow orangish tint with black spots. The legs and feet can be a dull to bright shade of orange for both sexes.

Mexican Duck

Mexican ducks are similar to mallards in size and resemble a mottled duck or female mallard in coloration. Males and females are similar in appearance, although males generally have an olive-green bill while females have orange bills with dark spots. The head is a lighter color than the richly brown body, and the speculum is blueish green. Feet and legs are bright orange.

Wood Duck

Male wood ducks have a crested head that is iridescent green and purple with a white stripe leading from the eye to the end of the crest, and another narrower white stripe from the base of the bill to the tip of the crest. The throat is white and the chest is burgundy with white flecks, gradually grading into a white belly. The bill is brightly patterned black, white and red. The legs and feet are a dull straw yellow and the iris is red. Female wood ducks have a gray-brown head and neck with a brownish, green, glossed crest. A white teardrop shaped patch surrounds the brownish-black eye. The throat is white and the breast is gray-brown stippled with white, fading into the white belly. The back is olive brown with a shimmer of iridescent green. The bill is blue-gray and the legs and feet are dull grayish-yellow.

Blue-winged Teal

Male blue-winged teal have a slate gray head and neck, a black-edged white crescent in front of the eyes and a blackish crown. The breast and sides are tan with dark brown speckles and there is a white spot on the side of the rump. Most of the upper wing coverts are blue-gray, the secondaries form an iridescent green speculum and the underwing is whitish. The bill is black and the legs and feet are yellowish to orange. Female blue-winged teal have a brownish-gray head with a darker crown and eye stripe. The breast and sides are brown, the upper parts are olive brown, and the upper wing coverts are bluish, but less vibrant than the drake. The bill is gray-black and the legs and feet are dull yellow-brown. The female has a high-pitched squeak.

Cinnamon Teal

Male cinnamon teal have a cinnamon-red head, neck, breast and belly. They have an iridescent green speculum, which is separated from a bluish shoulder patch by a white stripe. The back, rump, uppertail coverts and tail are a dull brown and the undertail coverts are black. They have a distinctive red eye, a black bill and yellow legs and feet. Female cinnamon teal are often confused with female blue-winged teal. They have a duller blue shoulder patch, an overall rustier color and are more heavily streaked.

Northern Shoveler

Perhaps the most visible diagnostic characteristic of the northern shoveler is its large spoon-shaped bill, which widens towards the tip and creates a shape unique among North American waterfowl. Male northern shovelers have an iridescent green head and neck, white chest and breast and chestnut belly and sides. They have a white stripe extending from the breast along the margin of the gray-brown back, and white flank spots. The wings have a gray-blue shoulder patch, which is separated from a brilliant green speculum by a tapered white stripe. The bill is black in breeding plumage and the legs and feet are orange. Female northern shovelers have a light brownish head with a blackish crown and a brownish speckled body. The upper wing coverts are grayish-blue, the greater secondary coverts are tipped with white and the secondaries are brown with a slight greenish sheen. The bill is olive green with fleshy orange in the gape area and speckled with black dots.

Gadwall

Gadwalls are medium-sized ducks characterized by a general lack of bright coloration. Male gadwalls are gray-brown with a white belly and a black rump. In flight, a white speculum and chestnut and black portions on the wing coverts are displayed. The bill is slate-gray and the legs and feet are yellow. Female gadwalls are similar to males, but have a mottled brown appearance, a yellowish bill with dark spots and a smaller white speculum.

Eurasian Wigeon

Eurasian wigeons often can be found in the company of American Wigeons. The male's bright russet-red head, topped with a cream stripe, and its gray back and sides, distinguish it from its American cousin. Females of the two species are so similar that separation in the field is unreliable. However, adult female Eurasian wigeons have two color phases: gray and red. Females in reddish plumage have russet-brown heads, necks, chests, backs, sides and flanks, with a much redder tinge than female American wigeons. Male Eurasian Wigeon have a black-speckled russet-red neck and head topped with a cream stripe. The breast is grayish-pink and the lower breast, belly and sides of the rear body behind the flanks are white. The flanks are finely vermiculated and appear gray. In flight, a white shoulder patch and green speculum are displayed. The bill is blue-gray with a black tip and the legs and feet are blue-gray. Female Eurasian wigeon have gray-brown-to-russet-brown heads, necks, chests, backs, sides and flanks. The bill is blue-gray with a black tip and the legs and feet are blue-gray.

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Diving DucksView All

Canvasback

Male canvasbacks have a chestnut-red head and neck, a black breast, grayish back, black rump and blackish-brown tail. The sides, flank and belly are white, while the wing coverts are grayish and vermiculated with black. The bill is blackish and the legs and feet are bluish-gray. The iris is bright red in the spring, but duller in the winter. Female canvasbacks have a light brown head and neck, grading into a darker brown chest and foreback. The sides, flanks and back are grayish-brown. The bill is blackish and the legs and feet are bluish-gray.

Redhead

Male redheads have a reddish head and upper neck with a black lower neck, foreback and breast. The remaining back is a dark grayish color. The hind back and tail are brownish-black. A broad band of light gray extends across the dusky gray wing and out onto the primaries, which helps distinguish it from scaup. The legs and feet are gray, and the bill is light blue-gray with a whitish band behind a relatively wide black tip. Female redheads have a reddish-brown head, neck and breast, with a buff white chin and throat and an indistinct eye ring and stripe behind the eye. The flanks are warm brown, contrasting little with the breast, but with buffer fringes. The upper parts are darker and duller brown, with the upper-wing-coverts browner than on the male; otherwise the wing is similar to that of the male. The bill is duller than the male's, but similar in pattern.

Ring-necked Duck

Although male ring-necked ducks superficially resemble their counterparts in greater and lesser scaup, their peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings and uniformly dark upper wings distinguish them. Female ring-necked ducks most closely resemble female redheads, but are distinguished by their smaller size; peaked, angular head profile; and pale region around the face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent black head, neck, breast and upperparts. The belly and flanks are whitish to grayish, with a distinctive triangular white wedge extending upward in the area in front of the folded wing. The bill is slate with a white border around the base and nares, and a pale white band behind the black tip.

The "ringneck" name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is visible only upon close inspection. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Ring-necked ducks are silent except in display, when a low whistling note is uttered. Female ring-necked ducks have a brown head with a black crown, light brown cheeks and chin and a white eye ring. A narrow white line extends from the eye to the back of the head. The bill is slate with a faint white band near the tip. The neck, back, sides and flanks are brown and the belly is white. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is brown. Female vocalizes a soft, rolling "trrr."

Greater Scaup

Greater and lesser scaup are often found together, but the larger size of the greater scaup is very obvious. Male greater scaup also have a larger, more rounded head than male lesser scaup. Male greater scaup tend to have a glossy black head tinted green, although head color can vary and is not a reliable distinguishing feature. The neck, breast and upper mantle are glossy black, and the flanks and belly are white, sometimes with gray vermiculations on the lower flanks. The back is whitish with fine black vermiculations, and the tail and upper- and under-tail coverts are black. The wing has a broad white speculum, with white extending into the primaries. This contrasts with lesser scaup, in which the white is restricted to the speculum. The bill is a light blue-gray with a black nail, both of which are larger in greater scaup than lesser scaup. The legs and feet are gray and the iris is yellow. Female greater scaup are brown with white oval patches around their bills. The female's bill is similar to that of the male, but slightly duller, and the legs and feet are gray.

Lesser Scaup

Lesser and greater scaup are often found together. The smaller size of the lesser scaup is very obvious. Lesser scaup also have a smaller, less-round, purple-tinted head than greater scaup. Male lesser scaup have a glossy black head with a purple cast. The neck, breast and upper mantle are glossy black. Vermiculations on the sides and flanks are olive brown and contrast with the white chest and belly. The back is light gray with broad heavy vermiculations of sooty black. The tail, upper and under-tail coverts are black. The wing has a white speculum and the inner primaries are light brown, becoming darker towards the tips and outer primaries. The bill is a light blue-gray with a black nail, the legs and feet are gray and the iris is yellow. Female lesser scaup have a brownish head, neck and chest, and white oval patches around their bills. The back, rump and scapulars are dark brown and the speculum is white. The bill is similar to that of the male but slightly duller, the legs and feet are gray and the iris is yellow.

Steller's Eider

The Steller's eider is the smallest and fastest flying of the eiders. Its appearance is puddle-duck-like, with a head and bill reminiscent of a mallard. Male Steller's eiders have a white head with a black eye spot and a pale green patch on the crown. The wing resembles that of a wigeon, but the white shoulder patch is larger and is bordered by a blue rather than a green speculum. The chest is chestnut, and the side of the breast is marked with a circular black spot. The throat and back are black, and the bill, legs and feet are a blue-gray. Female Steller's eiders have dark brown mottled plumage and a pale buff eye ring. The speculum is blue with a white border on each side, similar to the mallard. The bill, legs and feet are blue-gray.

Spectacled Eider

In both sexes, the feathers extend down to the nostrils, a characteristic not found in the other eiders. Male spectacled eiders are striking, with a pale green head, bright orange bill and the characteristic white spectacle-like patches around the eyes. The chest, rump, tail and belly are black, and the throat, neck and back are white. The legs and feet are yellow-brown and the iris of the eye is pale blue. Female spectacled eiders are a tawny color, similar to the female king and common eiders, with a gray-blue bill and light brown spectacles around their blue eyes. The legs and feet are yellow-brown.

King Eider

Male king eiders have a black lower back, rump, scapulars, tail coverts, breast, belly and sides. The tail is brown-black and the bill is orange, sweeping upward into an orange frontal shield outlined in black with a pale blue crest. The neck, chest and foreback are creamy white. They have a white patch at the base of the tail and in the forepart of the upper wings. The legs and feet are dull yellow to orange. Female king eiders are tawny-brown, barred with dusky brown chevrons ("V" marks) that can be similar in color to common eiders. The bill and facial skin are a dark olive-gray and the legs and feet are grayish.

Common Eider

Common eiders are the largest duck found in the northern hemisphere. They are stocky, thick-necked birds that hold their heads below body level during flight. Male common eiders have a primarily white head, neck, chest and back. The breast, belly, sides, rump, tail coverts and tail are black. The crown and forehead have a black cap, while the cheeks are pale green and are used in breeding displays. A white round spot occurs on the black flank just forward of the tail. The head has a distinct sloping profile. The bill is olive-gray, turning yellowish near the facial area, and the legs and feet are grayish-green. Female common eiders are russet-brown to gray. All are heavily barred with dark brown lines on their backs, chests, breasts, sides and flanks. The head has a distinct sloping profile. The bill is olive-gray to olive-yellow and the legs and feet are grayish.

Harlequin Duck

The male Harlequin is very distinct and can be confused with no other waterfowl species. The basic body color is a deep slate blue, enlivened by white stripes, crescents and spots on the head, neck and scapulars. The sides and flanks are chestnut colored. The bill is blue-gray with a pale nail and the legs and feet are grayish. Female Harlequin ducks resemble female buffleheads: Except for the three white spots on the head, the hen's basic color is black-brown. There also is an oblong white spot behind the eye instead of the circular one seen on buffleheads. Female Harlequins are also duskier and larger and, in flight, show no white patches on their wings, as buffleheads do.

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GeeseView All

Emperor Goose

Male and female emperor geese have gray body plumage that is subtly barred with black and white. The white head and hindneck, which are often stained orange-red from feeding in tidal ponds where iron oxide is concentrated, contrast markedly with the dark foreneck. Contrast distinguishes this goose from the blue-morph snow goose, whose entire foreneck and chin are white like the head. The emperor goose's short bill is pink and lacks the black "grinning patch" present in blue geese. The legs and feet of the emperor goose are yellow-orange, while those of the blue goose are pink.

Snow Goose

The greater snow goose is a slightly larger version of the white-phase lesser snow goose. No color dimorphism has been discovered in this race. In the field it is virtually impossible to tell these two apart. In the hand, the larger size and longer bill of the greater snow goose distinguish it from its smaller counterpart. The sexes are similar in appearance, but the female is often smaller.

Lesser snow geese have two color phases: a dark (blue) plumage and a white (snow) plumage. The two color phases are variations within the same race and do not indicate separate races. The sexes are similar in appearance in both phases, but the female is often smaller. Lesser snow geese can hybridize with Ross' geese, which are similar in appearance. They have pinkish bills with black grinning patches, and the feet and legs are reddish-pink. In the dark phase they have white heads and upper necks, with bluish-gray bodies. In the white phase they are completely white except for black wing tips. The head can be stained rusty brown from minerals in the soil where they feed. They are very vocal and can often be heard from more than a mile away.

Ross's Goose

Ross' geese are the smallest of the three varieties of white geese that breed in North America. The Ross' goose is a small white goose with black primary feathers. The bill is a deep reddish-pink with a paler nail and a variably bluish warty area over the base of the basal area. The legs and feet are rose-pink and the iris is dark brown. The sexes are dimorphic, with the female being 6 percent smaller than the male. The Ross' goose has a relatively short neck and lacks the black "grinning patch" that is typical of greater and lesser snow geese, for which it is often mistaken. Ross' geese may be distinguished from snow geese by their smaller size, more rapid wing beat and higher-pitched call.

Greater White-fronted Goose

The Greater white-fronted goose is named for the distinctive white band found at the base of bill. The sexes are similar in appearance, but males typically are larger. The head, neck and upper back of white-fronted geese are grayish-brown. The lower back and rump are dark brown, and the tail is dark brown and edged with white. The chest and breast are grayish with dark brown to black blotches and bars on the breast, giving it the nickname "specklebelly." The belly and upper and lower coverts are white. The bill is pinkish and the legs and feet are orange. Greater white-fronted geese are a long-lived species, with one individual holding the current longevity record for North American waterfowl at 34 years and 7 months.

Brant

In North America, two subspecies of brant are recognized, mostly due to differences in plumage characteristics. Atlantic or Pacific (black) brant are separated into subpopulations inhabiting distinct ranges and having genetic variation. Brant are small, dark geese that have large wings, which give them their characteristic strong flight.

Brant have short necks, small heads and bills. All subspecies have a black head, bill, breast, primaries, tail and legs. The otherwise black neck has a series of white striations, called a necklace, near the middle. The color of the belly varies according to subspecies and subpopulation. Both sexes are identical in plumage, except that the male's white necklace is larger than the female's.

Barnacle Goose

Barnacle geese have a black chest, neck and crown, with a cream-white face. The sexes are similar in appearance, but males typically are larger. The extension of black from the neck over the head gives the face a hooded appearance. The upper back is black, shading posterior to silver-gray. The breast, sides and flanks are a pale gray and the belly, undertail coverts and rump are white, contrasting markedly with the large black tail. The bill, legs and feet are black.

Cackling Goose

Cackling geese resemble Canada geese in appearance. Male cackling geese are slightly larger than females, with both sexes having long, black necks with white chinstraps. 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. The back and scapulars are darker brown, the rump is blackish and the tail is blackish-brown with a U-shaped white band on the rump. The bill, legs and feet are black.

Cackling geese are a small-bodied group of four subspecies, consisting of the Aleutian, Cackling, Taverner's and Richardson's geese. Cackling geese have proportionally smaller, stubbier, triangular-shaped bills than their Canada goose counterparts.

Canada Goose

Both sexes of Canada geese have a black head and neck except for broad white cheek patches extending from the throat to the rear of the eye. The female of a breeding pair is often smaller. 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 white collar. The back and scapulars are darker brown, the rump is blackish and the tail is blackish-brown with a U-shaped white band on the rump. The bill, legs and feet are black. Most subspecies are uniformly large and pale and exhibit the characteristic "honking" call.

There are 7 recognized subspecies of Canada geese: Atlantic, Hudson Bay or Interior, Giant, Moffitt's or Great Basin, Lesser, Dusky and Vancouver. In general, the subspecies nesting farther north are smaller in size and darker in color to the west. The Giant Canada goose is the largest goose in the world, with some individuals weighing more than 20 pounds. 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.

Hawaiian Goose

Hawaiian geese have a black face and crown and cream-colored cheeks. The neck is pale grayish streaked with black and has a narrow dark ring at the base. The body plumage and folded wings are gray-brown with transverse barring. The bill, legs and feet are black and the iris is dark brown. Both sexes are similar in appearance, but males typically are larger.

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Other Waterfowl and Wetland BirdsView All

Tundra Swan

The plumage of adult tundra swans is completely white, though their heads and necks are often stained a rusty color from ferrous minerals encountered in marsh soils during feeding. The bill is black and often has a yellow spot at the base. The legs and feet are black and the iris is dark brown. Both sexes are identical in appearance, but males typically are larger. The tundra swan is smaller than the trumpeter swan, but it is difficult to separate them in the field. The tundra swan's call is high-pitched and reminiscent of snow geese, while the trumpeter swan's call is more vociferous and has been likened to the sound of a French horn.

Trumpeter Swan

The plumage of adult trumpeter swans is completely white, though their heads and necks are often stained a rusty color from contact with ferrous minerals in the soils of wetland bottoms during feeding. The bill, legs and feet are black and the iris is brown. Both sexes are identical in appearance, but males typically are larger. The trumpeter swan is larger than the similar tundra swan, but it is difficult to separate them in the field. The trumpeter swan's call is more vociferous than that of the tundra swan and has been likened to the sound of a French horn. The tundra swan's call is high-pitched and reminiscent of snow geese.

Mute Swan

Originating in Eurasia, the Mute swan is currently an invasive species in North America due to multiple deliberate introductions. The species is very large with all white plumage and long necks. They are identifiable from other swans by black knobs at the base of their beaks. Mute swans have black feet and orange beaks. Juveniles can range from the typical white plumage to a grayish brown plumage. The grayish brown can also apply to their bill and feet while juveniles. Regardless of age, the Mute Swan is a very aggressive species and will attack native waterfowl as well as species as large as humans.

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

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 sides of the head, neck, chest and belly are a rich rufous-buff, with the sides of the neck paler, almost whitish, with fine dark striations. The back is dark brown with chestnut feather fringes, and the rump is white. Ivory-edged side and flank feathers form a striking border between the sides and back. A distinctive white "V" separates the brownish-black tail from the dark-colored back. The bill, legs and feet are blue-gray and the iris is dark brown.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Male and female black-bellied whistling-ducks are similar in size and color. In general, black-bellied whistling-ducks are long-legged, long-necked and the most erect of all ducks. They have a black belly with a chestnut nape, lower neck, chest, and back. A chestnut cap tops the head. They boast a bright orange bill, gray face, and upper neck and white eye ring. The long pink legs are easily observed while they are perched in trees.

American Coot

While the American coot resembles a duck, it is not actually a duck species. Coots have chicken-like beaks, legs, and feet. Both drake and hen coots are grey in color but appear black from a distance. Their beaks are white with a faint red strip near the tip. The easiest way to tell the sex of a coot is its voice.

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill cranes are long and tall with thick heavy bodies. Both males and females have gray plumage and can’t easily be sexed by physical appearance, although males tend to be slightly larger.

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30 Different Types of Ducks (Pics, Facts & Chart)

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Home / Wildlife / 30 Different Types of Ducks (Pics, Facts & Chart)30 Different Types of Ducks (Pics, Facts & Chart)

Written by:

Kendall Casey

Kendall is an extreme outdoor enthusiast, adventurist, and overall nature lover passionate about teaching outdoor skills and knowledge through writing. She enjoys helping others find their outdoor niche and connecting people with their wild side.

Outdoor Adventure Writer specializing in kayaking, hiking, camping, backpacking, bushcraft, and gardening. Completed the entirety of the Delaware River in her kayak. Belay certified and 5 years of indoor rock climbing instruction. Homesteader, organic gardener, and herbalist. Bachelor's degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia.

Lou Dzierzak

Lou Dzierzak on 14/12/2021

Editor-in-Chief at Outforia, Inspired by wild adventures. Camper, hiker, paddler, cyclist, explorer, storyteller.

Last updated on: September 20, 2023View Table of ContentsThe Physical Features of DucksShare this image on your siteAbout All DucksShare this image on your site3 Main Groups of Duck Species1. Dabbling DuckTypes of Dabbling DucksAmerican Black DuckAmerican WigeonBlue-winged TealCinnamon TealEurasian WigeonNorthern PintailWood DuckMallardNorthern ShovelerBlack-bellied Whistling-Duck2. Diving DuckTypes of Diving DucksBuffleheadCanvasbackRuddy DuckRedheadCommon GoldeneyeHooded MerganserRed-breasted MerganserGreater ScaupHarlequin DuckBlack Scoter3. Perching DuckTypes of Perching DuckBlue DuckTorrent DuckBrazilian DuckComb DuckPink-eared DuckHartlaub’s DuckCotton Pygmy GooseMandarin DuckRinged TealManed DuckDuck Life Cycle: Egg, Hatchling, AdultInteresting Facts about DucksA Duck’s QuackDucks Natural PredatorsNavigation during MigrationDucks FAQAre Geese and Swans considered Ducks?What is the Classification for Ducks?What is the Smallest Duck in the World?YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Outforia Quicktake: Key Takeaways

Ducks have various physical features that help with identification, such as their crown, bill, nail, throat, auriculars, wing, breast, rump, and tail.

There are three main groups of duck species: dabbling ducks, diving ducks, and perching ducks, each with their own unique characteristics and behaviors.

Ducks go through a life cycle that includes the egg, hatchling, and adult stages, with ducklings learning to forage and hunt from their mothers.

Ducks have various interesting facts, such as their worldwide presence (except Antarctica), waterproof feathers, and a wide range of noises, including quacking and whistling.

Ducks have numerous natural predators, including red foxes, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, badgers, mink, corvids, and gulls.

The Physical Features of Ducks

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Part of a duck by Outforia

Understanding the physical features of species of ducks helps outdoor nature enthusiasts and birders identify ducks quickly and accurately.

Crown – Just like humans., the crown is the very top of the head. The crown of a duck’s head can help identify a duck based on whether it is flatter or more peaked.

Bill – A duck’s bill is often spatula-shaped to help them filter their food from the water.

Nail – on the tip of the duck’s bill is a slightly thicker tip, called the nail. This helps with digging to find food.

Throat – The throat is noted on a duck when there is a prominent ring around the base of the duck’s neck.

Auriculars – The duck’s auriculars are the duck’s cheeks! Sometimes, there is distinctive coloring on the auriculars only.

Wing – The wings of a duck and the body of a duck can often be drastically different colors, which helps in identifying duck species.

Breast – Seen when the duck is flying, the breast of the duck may boast different colors, mottling, or distinct patterns.

Rump/Tail – While usually covered by wings, a duck’s rump can be helpful in identification. Dabbling ducks are the only ducks who stick their entire rear out of the water while feeding. Tail feathers can also help with identification, for example, mallard’s tail feathers are curled.

RELATED 31+ Florida Turtles: ID Guide with Facts, Chart and PhotosAbout All Ducks

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Types of Ducks Infographics by Outforia

When speaking of species of ducks, males are called drakes, females are called hens, and baby ducks are known as ducklings.

Hens typically find their mate during the winter months. The female duck then leads the male back to their breeding ground, traveling together in the spring. Typically, the female’s breeding ground is where the egg she came from hatched.

Hens lay and incubate the eggs, some drakes will guard their nest and chase away predators. Other drakes will not participate in any of the nesting processes and will instead continue migrating to their molting locations.

Drakes boast brilliant colors during mating season to attract the attention of hens. After breeding is over, many male ducks will molt and sport duller shades of brown and white until the following year. On the other hand, female ducks are always more boring in color and are often brown. Female coloring is designed to hide the hens better while brooding and taking care of hatchlings.

You may also like: How Do Ducks Mate? It’s Weirder Than You Think

RELATED How To Make A Camping Tent From Scratch: An Emergency Shelter, or For Fun3 Main Groups of Duck Species

1. Dabbling Duck

Dabbling ducks are easily recognizable by their trait of sticking their rump out of the water while they feed. Dabbling ducks are also called dipping, surface-feeding, or freshwater ducks. There are about 38 species of dabbling ducks.

These types of ducks mainly feed on water plants, seeds, and insects. These ducks root through mud and water in shallow water to find insects and skim the top of the water for food. Dabbling ducks rarely submerge themselves underwater. You can spot dabbling ducks leaving the water with their flock noisily.

You can find Dabbling ducks in worldwide inland waters of the Northern Hemisphere.

Female dabbling ducks are responsible for laying and incubating 6-12 eggs for 20-25 days. Once the eggs hatch, birdlings can fly within two weeks.

Types of Dabbling Ducks

American Black Duck

You can find American black ducks in the northern United States, from the Mississippi River to Ontario. The highest densities of the ducks are in Maine and Nova Scotia during mating seasons. Year-round, you can find black ducks in the northeast states.

When American black ducks winter, they move to the south from the Maritime Provinces to Florida. During wintering, you can spot these ducks in large numbers between Long Island and North Carolina.

Marshes, bogs, lakes, stream margins, brackish and salt marshes, and the margins of estuaries are all locations where you will find American black ducks.

American black ducks will eat insects and amphibians in freshwater habitats and mollusks and crustaceans in brackish water.

American black ducks have a dark plumage but are similar to mallards in size and color. The male and female are parallel except for their bill. Males have a yellow bill, while females have a dull green bill. In-flight, you can spot the ducks’ white underwings along with their brown heads, compared to very dark bodies.

American Wigeon

American Wigeons breed in the most Northwest parts of Canada in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. You can find Wigeons in Alaska as well. When not breeding, American wigeons winter to the south to Florida, Texas, and Mexico. These ducks are one of the earliest species to migrate to their wintering grounds.

Both drakes and hens have rounded compact heads. Drakes are easily identifiable by a green stripe above and behind their eye with a white crown. Males also have a distinctive matching green line on their wings when in flight. Hens have dark smudges around their eyes.

Whether in the tundras of Canada or California, American Wigeons prefer wet meadows, wetlands, and flooded pastures for their foraging of grasses and sedges.

Blue-winged Teal

Small in size, the blue-winged teal duck can be identified by its brown-colored body and dense black speckles. As its name suggests, blue-winged teal males have two powder blue patches on their wings in flight. Another identifying factor for males is their bluish-gray heads and a white crescent shape in front of their eyes. Females are brown with a dark, darker crown and black bill.

In the Prairie Pothole Region, you can find the blue-winged teals in their breeding grounds in central North America. While interesting, Blue-winged teals migrate to Florida, Mexico, Central, and South America.

Blue-winged teals prefer wetlands and areas such as shallow marshes, flooded ditches, and ponds. Females lay an average of 10 eggs each year and nest in tall grasses.

Reportedly, blue-winged teals migrate over vast distances. One recording tracked a bird from Alberta to Venezuela in just a month. The blue-winged teal duck is one of the last ducks to migrate in spring and fall.

Cinnamon Teal

In the western United States, the cinnamon teal duck breeds in alkaline wetlands and winter in Mexico and Central America. Occasionally, you will spot cinnamon teal ducks in Colombia and Venezuela. You will see cinnamon teal ducks migrating in Utah’s Great Salt Lake marshes and the Central Valley of California.

Typically, cinnamon teal ducks inhabit freshwater wetlands, such as marshes. They prefer plenty of vegetation and high plants to nest. Females lay 8-10 eggs per year. Much like other dabbling ducks, cinnamon teals eat aquatic insects and mollusks. They do, however, prefer salt grass seeds, pondweed seeds, and rush seeds.

While hens look similar to Blue-winged teal females, cinnamon teal drakes have highly distinctive characteristics. A male cinnamon teal has a cinnamon-red head, neck, breast, and belly during mating season. After breeding is complete, males molt this coloring and look much more like female birds. During this season, you can tell males apart by their bright red eyes and their flatter beaks.

Eurasian Wigeon

During breeding seasons, Eurasian wigeons live in Scandinavia, the British Isles, Iceland, eastern Siberia, and northern Europe. Eurasian wigeons winter in Africa, Arabia, India, southern China, the east Atlantic islands, and the Philippines.

Eurasian Wigeons breed in shallow wetlands and freshwater marshes, ponds, and lakes, surrounded by forests and tundras. Females lay an average of 7-10 eggs, preferring to nest on the ground of said forest or tundra.

Adult males have a mainly gray body with a large white patch on their wings. In contrast, their heads are chestnut colored. Females are round-headed with a short bill. Their bodies are mainly brown to dark brown wings. When in flight, females have a white under-wing. Both drakes and hens have a black tip to their bill.

Northern Pintail

Northern pintails breed in the north of the United States and into Canada, staying in shallow waters around the edges of lakes and ponds, far away from human activity. These ducks winter in the central and southern United States and into Mexico.

Unlike many other ducks, the Northern pintail is excellent at walking on land and is often seen in farm fields foraging for seeds. These agile birds are also incredible fliers, reaching speeds up to 48 mph (77.24 kph). They’ve also migrated non-stop for over 1,500 miles (2,414.01 km)!

Northern pintails prefer to breed in wetlands with short vegetation and nearby crop fields. Northern pintails nest on the ground in between the greenery. They make several scrapes on the ground before nesting. Also, you might spot them in brackish wetlands, estuaries, and bays. They eat the seeds and grains from farm fields, along with aquatic plants, worms, and other aquatic insects.

Male northern pintails have long necks, which exaggerates their long tail feathers. They have a dark brown head, white breast, and a white neck stripe. Females are also slender with long tail feathers but less boisterous in color. Females sport a tan head, as opposed to most females’ brown heads.

Wood Duck

Wood ducks live through the central and eastern United States, into Canada, and along the Pacific coast. Recently, breeding patterns of the wood duck have traveled into the Great Plains region. Not many wood ducks winter, but those who do fly to eastern Texas.

Like their name suggests Wood ducks like wooded swamps, bottomland forests, beaver ponds, and freshwater marshes. Wood ducks prefer areas with lots of vegetation coverage that they can easily hide in.

Wood ducks eat seeds, fruits, and insects. Because they are typically in wooded areas, wood ducks can also feed on acorns and other fruits from forest trees.

The nests of wood ducks are found in tree cavities 1-2 feet (0.30 m-0.60 m) in diameter and anywhere from 2-60 feet (0.60 m-18.28 m) high. For the protection of the nests, higher sites seem to be preferred. Wood ducks can not make their cavities in trees and rely on the natural state of tree decay for their nests. Females lay 2-16 eggs 1-2 times each year.

Male wood ducks are gorgeous with distinctive plumage. A green crested head and chestnut body are accented with white and black markings on the neck, jaw, and wings. Male ducks have piercing red eyes. Females are a warm brown with a crested head, a white teardrop shape around the eye and wings with white and blue plumage.

Mallard

Of course, we can not leave out the mallard! One of the most recognizable ducks in the United States, mallards can be found year-round throughout the country. Mallards are located as far south as Florida, all the way up to Alaska. Mallards live in wetlands, ponds, lakes, parks, bogs – clearly, mallards are not picky about their habitat.

Mallards are foragers and eat both seeds and aquatic vegetation. During the breeding season, mallard ducks prefer protein-rich food such as larvae, earthworms, and snails.

Nesting takes place on the ground near the water’s edge. Natural nests tend to be in overhanging grass and made from anything the female can reach from her indentation of the earth. Female mallards will not carry material from anywhere else to their nest. Interestingly, mallards accept artificial nesting structures, such as homemade nests from homeowners and farmers. Mallard females lay 1-13 eggs 1-2 times each year.

Extremely distinctive, male mallards have green heads, a white ringed neck, chestnut-brown chest, and yellow bill. Their sides are gray and brownish-black. You can also spot violet-blue colors on the male, along with his coral-red feet. Males have notable curly tail feathers. Females are a mottled brown color with a dark brown crown and a dark brown stripe that runs through the eye. A female’s bill is orange with brown, and her feet are orange.

The mallard duck is the ancestor of almost all domestic ducks, even if they look much different.

Northern Shoveler

During the breeding season, the northern shoveler lives in the western regions of Canada, Alaska, and the northwestern United States, but not on the coast. The northern shoveler will then winter to the southern United States and Mexico, including fresh and brackish marshes and ponds. They tend to avoid full saltwater ponds and the open sea.

The northern shovelers live in shallow wetlands that have vegetation for hiding and feeding. Nests can be found in grassy fields nearby. During wintering seasons, these ducks forage in salt marshes, lakes, wetlands, and ponds. Females lay 8-12 eggs once a year.

The northern shoveler, known for its distinctive flat bill, filters out its food using lamellae or comblike pieces on the edge of its bill. They feed on small crustaceans, aquatic invertebrates, and seeds.

Breeding drakes boast a white chest, dark emerald green head, and a large black bill that looks much like a shovel. When stationary, males have reddish-brown sides but green and have a powder blue shoulder patch when in flight. When males are not mating, they look similar to a female in that they change to having brown markings.

Female northern shovelers have a marked brown head and body with powdery-blue shoulder patches. Matching the males, hens have an overly long and wide bill that is orange in color, matching their orange legs. These ducks use their overly sized bill to shovel and sift through the mud.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

Black-bellied whistling-ducks live year long along the coast of Mexico, Texas, Florida, and South America. Like mallards, black-bellied whistling-ducks take well to handmade nesting boxes. You can find these ducks nesting in thickets of trees. They forage in fields, lawns, and shallow, freshwater ponds.

Often seen in farm fields, these ducks can eat sorghum, millet, corn, rice, and wheat. However, they mainly eat smartweed, grasses, amaranth, bindweed, and nightshade. Along with this, they eat small aquatic animals. Typically, they feast at night.

Much like the wood duck, black-bellied whistling-ducks nest in tree hollows. Both males and females pick the nesting site. Typically, these ducks do not build up their nests and instead lay their eggs on whatever is in the tree or nest box. Some wood ducks nest on the ground. Females lay 9-18 eggs 1-2 times a year.

Black-bellied whistling-ducks are unique in that males and females look the same. Both flaunt long necks with red bills. As their name suggests, they have a black belly with a chestnut body. A large patch of white on their wings can be seen either at rest or in flight.

Whistling-ducks do actually whistle, and a flock of these ducks will be extremely noisy.

2. Diving Duck

As their name suggests, diving ducks dive beneath the water’s surface to find food. Diving ducks dine on fish, insects, and aquatic plants.

Diving ducks, also called sea ducks, can be found in large, deep lakes, rivers, and coastal bays. There are roughly 20 species of diving ducks. Northern species of diving ducks will migrate, but north species do not.

Diving ducks are most commonly seen in water because they are less comfortable on land due to their far-back legs. When taking off from the water, you will hear their rapid wingbeat patter along the water surface. While their blunt-shaped wings mean take-off is a bit difficult, diving ducks are strong fliers once in the air.

Types of Diving Ducks

Bufflehead

The buffleheads breed in southern Alaska and throughout central Canada. Buffleheads migrate along the coastlines and winter in the eastern United States. Half of the bufflehead ducks’ time is spent foraging underwater, looking for food. When they find crustaceans or invertebrates, they will eat them while still underwater.

A dive can last from anywhere between 12 seconds to 25 seconds.

Bufflehead ducks will only nest in tree cavities near ponds and lakes made by Northern Flickers or Pileated Woodpeckers. While these ducks stay on the coastline, they stay away from the open coast and keep sheltered coves, harbors, and estuaries. Females will lay 4-17 eggs per year. You will not see the bufflehead duck walking on land.

To dive deep into the water, buffleheads squeeze their wings and plumage close to their body to release any air, then give a small leap forward and plunge downward.

Buffleheads are very small with large heads. They have short, broad bills. Males have a white body, black back, and a white patch that wraps around the ducks’ dark heads. Female buffleheads are brown with the same large rounded head. They have a single patch of white on their cheek, and they have a fluffy appearance to them.

Canvasback

Canvasback ducks breed in western Canada and into Alaska while they winter into the mid-Atlantic United States. The Chesapeake Bay houses many wintering canvasbacks. These ducks search for brackish bays and marshes with lots of vegetation.

Plants, rhizomes, tubers, mussels, and insects make up a canvasbacks’ diet. To eat their aquatic plants, canvasbacks dive up to 7 feet (2.13m) below the surface. The ducks take insects from the water’s surface, instead of diving for them. Canvasbacks seldom go on dry land and will even sleep while floating.

Females will nest in shallow wetlands among the cattails and reeds. Most times, canvasback ducks make their nests on floating vegetation! Sometimes, female ducks will lay their eggs in other canvasbacks’ nests. Likewise, Redheads and ruddy ducks will lay their eggs in canvasbacks’ nests as well.

Canvasbacks are often seen in groups of thousands, gathering to be social. When flying, they can get up to speeds of 56 mph (90.12 kph)!

Both males and females are large and have a broad sloping forehead, with short necks. Both have white bodies and black chests, although females are more muted in these colors. Male canvasback ducks have bright red eyes, while females have black eyes with a tan ring around them.

Ruddy Duck

An absolutely adorable duck, the ruddy duck can be found throughout the United States and into Canada while breeding. You can find Ruddy ducks in both open water and on protected coastline. They thrive in wetlands during mating season.

Making this duck unique all on its own, males are bright blue-billed, white-cheeked, with a black crown. They boast a stiff black tail that sticks out of the water. The bill of the females resembles the shape of the males. It is a soft brown with a scooped shape. Both males and females have extremely thick and short necks.

To mate, male ruddy ducks beat their bills against their necks and bodies, pushing air into the water creating bubbles. This display will attract females who will then hear the male make a call similar to a belch.

Redhead

Redhead ducks breed in the northern Prairie lands of the United States, wintering south into the US and Mexico. They prefer marshes and open land deep lakes.

Redheads eat aquatic plants, pondweed, and grass. They also like to munch on snails, zebra mussels, and mayflies.

As their name suggests, male redhead ducks have a red head and a red upper neck. The majority of the male redhead’s body is black, with a dark gray color on its lower back. Male redhead ducks have bright yellow eyes, which stick out in contrast to their copper redhead. Its beak is light gray with a black tip.

Redhead females often lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, known as “brood parasitism.” These ducks do this because they rely on other bird species to raise their hatchlings. If females do hatch their eggs, they choose nesting sites within cattails.

Common Goldeneye

Common goldeneye ducks are large-headed ducks that eat mostly fish. Both males and females have bright amber eyes, hence their name, goldeneyes. Goldeneyes live in the forests of Canada and Alaska.

Goldeneye ducks feast on fish and fish eggs while supplementing with tubers and seeds. They also like to eat crabs, shrimp, crayfish, barnacles, and mussels. Goldeneye ducks synchronize their dives with each other and can last up to a minute underwater.

Like redhead ducks, females may lay their eggs in other ducks’ nests, especially those of Barrow goldeneyes. If females do nest, they do so in tee holes near water. Females will insulate their nests by plucking feathers off of themselves. Often, these ducks will return to the same nesting area year after year.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded merganser ducks can be found in wooded wetlands from Alaska, down the west coast, and along the east coast, inland just past the Mississippi river.

These ducks dine on small fish, crayfish, and aquatic insects. They will supplement with vegetation, unlike other merganser ducks.

Females nest in tree cavities 10-15 feet (3.04 m-4.57 m) away from the water’s edge and 50-90 feet (15.24 m-27.43 m) up. Hooded merganser ducks will reuse nests from the previous year and/or will scout out new nests for the following year. After only 24 hours of hatching, baby merganser ducks will leave their nests, fluttering down 50-90 feet (15.24 m-27.43 m) or more.

Hooded merganser ducks, too, lay their eggs in other nests but only of their species. Some hooded merganser duck nests have had up to 44 eggs in them!

Male hooded merganser ducks are boisterous in their plumage with their oversized head, especially when they raise their hood or head feathers. Females can do the same but have more muted cinnamon tones instead of the sharp black and white of the male.

Red-breasted Merganser

Red-breasted merganser ducks live further North than the hooded merganser ducks. Commonly spotted in most of Alaska and the Bering Sea, they are as far north as the tundras of the Yukon territories. The red-breasted merganser ducks breed close to the coast in brackish and saltwater wetlands.

Red-breasted mergansers nest on the ground in all sorts of different vegetation and sites. These nesting sites are in marshes, rocky inlets, piles of driftwood, and vegetated islands.

Fish is the primary food source for red-breasted mergansers. They need to eat 15-20 fish per day, which means they dive underwater 250-300 times and forage for 4-5 hours!

Male and female red-breasted mergansers look like they’ve just been to a rock concert with plumage sticking out from the crown of their head. Males have black heads, red eyes, and white long necks. Their bodies are covered in black and white plumage and a red chest. Both males and females have a long, thin orange bill. Females have brown coloring on their heads and necks with gray and white bodies.

Greater Scaup

Congregating by the hundreds and thousands, the greater scaup duck lives in the tundra regions of North America and Europe. They breed in shallow lakes, ponds, and treeless wetlands. Liking diversity, greater scaup ducks like areas with shallow water for food, and areas with both out of the water and in water plants.

Greater Scaup ducks eat mollusks, insects, and crustaceans and will supplement with plants and seeds. These ducks dive up to 23 feet (7.01 m) for their meals.

Nesting happens either on high ground or on floating vegetation. Both locations keep the nests safe from flooding.

Harlequin Duck

Harlequins are extreme to every level, from the males’ flamboyant plumage to their year-round natural habitat. These ducks live along whitewater rivers and endure rough water and high winds their entire life on the shores of the Pacific Northwest. In the winter, they move to the ocean’s shores and get tossed around in large waves against the rocky shore. It is common to see harlequin ducks with broken bones.

The harlequin ducks make a squeaking noise, much like a mouse. They live mainly on small fish and sea insects, along with fish eggs. Harlequins will dive down an astonishing 70 feet (21.33 m) for their meals and bring most of their food to the top to eat.

Nesting happens on cliff ledges in small nooks and crannies, along with holes in trees. Occasionally, a nest is on the ground.

Both males and females have small gray bills. Males, however, have an extravagant plumage with a slate blue body, white crescent behind their eyes, and a chestnut crown patch. Along their body, you can see bright red marks, along with long stripes of white coloring. Females are brown in shade with a distinctive facial marking of a white patch next to their bills and a white spot next to their eyes.

Black Scoter

The black scoter duck is a sea duck that lives along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They prefer shallow bay water, where they can hunt for mussels and other shellfish.

Nesting happens within 100 feet (30.48 m) of the coastline and is on the ground or on small trees. Courting between male and female black scoters includes a show from the male, which includes flicking water with their bill, shaking their head side to side, and doing impressive take-offs and landings in the water.

Male black scooters are medium-sized and completely black except for a bright yellow knob on the top of their bill. Female black scoters are an all-over dark brown but sport a pale face. They do not have the yellow knob.

3. Perching Duck

Perching ducks are found in the tropics in wet woodlands. They are known for nesting in tree holes and perching high on branches, giving them their name. They have long claw-like toes that help with perching.

Larvae, snails, crabs, and aquatic animals are favorite meals for perching ducks.

Perching ducks boast bright colors with white wings and black linings. Drakes are larger and more colorful than hens, much like dabbling ducks.

Types of Perching Duck

Blue Duck

The blue duck has bluish coloring mixed in with chestnut speckles and lives in New Zealand. They stay near fast-flowing rivers in the mountains. They are powerful swimmers and do not fly much.

Blue ducks nest in hollow logs and small caves. Hatchlings are born with adorable tiny green beaks, but they develop an adult coloring after about eight hours. Adult bills are white-pink with black flaps that hang from the sides of the tip.

Torrent Duck

Found in the Andes of South America, torrent ducks live at elevations of over 5,000 feet (1,524 m). They prefer fast-flowing mountain rivers and are strong swimmers. They only fly for short distances to their nests.

Male torrent ducks have brown and white ‘streaks’ marking their chests and backs. They have black markings that are a teardrop shape from their eye and stripe down onto the backs of their necks. Female torrent ducks boast a chestnut-brown chest and a brown and white striped back. Both males and females have a dark orange beak.

Brazilian Duck

Found in South America, Brazilian ducks have the most fantastic plumage when in flight. Brazilian ducks prefer freshwater with lots of vegetation. Unlike most ducks, both male and female birds look after hatchlings.

Brazilian ducks prefer to stay in groups of 2-20.

While resting, Brazilian ducks have brown plumage. The male duck boasts a bright red bill, while the female ducks have brown bills. However, you will see the most amazing teal plumage on these ducks’ wings when in flight.

Comb Duck

Also known as knob-billed ducks, the look of the comb duck will knock your socks off. Comb ducks have a large black knob that sits on the top of their bill, making this duck unique! Adults have freckled black and white heads, a white neck and chest, and a dark body.

Comb ducks live in South America along with sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and South Asia. During the dry season, up to 100 comb ducks can be seen scavenging together, while in the wet seasons, they create smaller droves.

Pink-eared Duck

Found in Australia, the Pink-eared duck has a distinctive spatula-like bill. This duck has a white head with black eye patches, a brown and white striped body. These ducks are often called Zebra Ducks because of their stripes. Their name ‘pink-eared’ comes from tiny pink rose-colored patches right above and behind their eyes. These pink patches are hard to spot unless you are very close to the duck.

Pink-eared ducks congregate in shallow flood plains, and nesting only happens when there is a lot of food in the area.

Hartlaub’s Duck

Hartlaub’s Duck is named after the German naturalist Gustav Hartlaub, who discovered the duck. They live in West and Central Africa, from Guinea to Sudan.

Hartlaub’s Ducks have a very dark black head with white speckles on its crown. The rest of its body is a dark mahogany brown. They boast a beautiful light cornflower blue stripe on their wing.

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Also referred to as cotton teal, the cotton pygmy goose is a small duck, despite its name. These ducks live in India, Pakistan, and Southeast Asia. Australia is also home to these ducks.

The cotton pygmy goose nests in tree holes, like hollowed-out trunks, during the dry season. They swim in freshwater lakes, paddy fields, and irrigation tanks.

When males are breeding, they boast a white head and neck and show green and white wings when in flight. They have red eyes and a black band around their lower neck. Females do not have this collar and only have a narrow strip of white on their wings.

Mandarin Duck

This medium-sized duck boasts beautiful plumage of many colors. Mandarin ducks, also referred to as Yuan-yang by the Chinese, are often featured in Chinese art and usually found in weddings.

The male mandarin duck has a small red bill with yellow cheeks, a dark black crown, and white crescents above its eyes. They have reddish “whiskers” that cascade down their neck. Their chests boast a purple color, and their backs are a beautiful tan with black and white outlines. Female mandarin ducks are brown with white speckles. They have an elegant white eyering and white tear-drop that falls down the side of their face.

Mandarin ducks can be found in wooded areas and prefer shallow lakes or ponds. They nest in trees close by. A few days after hatching, a mother hen will coax her hatchlings out of the tree stump by encouraging them to fall to the ground.

Mandarins walk on land and eat plants and seeds instead of in the water.

Ringed Teal

The ringed teal duck lives in South American forests such as Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and Uruguay. They live in swampy woods and marshes.

Male ringed teal ducks have brown and black speckled cheeks and heads, while the crown has a black stripe down it. Their chests are light brown with black polka-dots, and their back is black with reddish wing feathers. Females have a spotted white and brown head, a pale neck and belly, and dark brown wings. Seen in their resting state is a stripe of green on their feathers.

Female ringed teal ducks have a fascinating call that sounds like a “mee-ow!”

Maned Duck

Found in Australia, maned ducks resemble a small goose. Both males and females look similar with brown heads and speckled brown and white chests and backs. Unlike most ducks, maned ducks barely swim and feed on dry ground. They search for plant matter.

Nesting for a maned duck takes place in tree cavities.

You may also like: Meet the 25+ Different Types of Falcon Species Found in the World: Complete With Images, Facts, and More!

RELATED How Do Ducks Mate? It’s Weirder Than You ThinkDuck Life Cycle: Egg, Hatchling, Adult

After a hen has found her drake for mating and laid her 5-12 eggs, the eggs will hatch within 28 days. For a little over a month, the mother duck keeps her ducklings together in a group. If you have ever seen ducklings out in the water, you will notice that they travel in a group or a line behind their mother and often stop to group back up.

After leaving their nest, hens and their ducklings do not return to their nest. Instead, the hen takes this time to teach their ducklings how to forage and hunt for food. The mother duck will snuggle her ducklings each night to keep them warm in her down feathers.

After 5-8 weeks, ducks are ready to fly and ready to leave the protection of their mother. At this point, ducklings molt and become juveniles. During this time, they will complete their first migration. Mother ducks may still assist with the first migration trip.

Within an entire year, ducks are fully grown with their adult coloring.

You may also like: Meet the 344 Amazing Types of Doves: Description, Images, Infographics, and More!

RELATED 40 Different Types of Birds Across The World: Photos + FactsInteresting Facts about Ducks

Ducks live on every continent except for Antarctica.

For over 500 years, people have been domesticating ducks for pets and farm animals. All domestic ducks descended from the mallard. There are now many different species of domestic duck breeds.

Wild ducks can live for 20 or more years. The oldest recorded duck was a mallard at age 27.

Ducks have webbed feet that do not have nerves, meaning they never get cold feet! No nerve endings allow ducks to swim and walk on cold icy water and snow.

Like many aquatic animals, ducks have three eyelids. The third eyelid acts as a protective shield under the water, like goggles.

Ducks’ feathers are waterproof. Ducks that boast denser feathers will have a dry underlayer of feathers after diving for food.

If you have ever seen a duck digging his bill into his feathers, called preening. Preening is how ducks clean themselves, and they do it continuously throughout the day.

Ducks are social creatures who prefer to be in their flock instead of alone. Most ducks spend the night sleeping together in a group.

You may also like: Get to Know More About the 14 Different Types of Birds of Pennsylvania: Complete with Images, Facts, Descriptions, and More!

RELATED Can Ducks Fly? How Do They Do It? Unlocking the Secrets of Duck FlightA Duck’s Quack

Not only do ducks quack, but they also make various other sounds such as whistling, cooing, yodeling, and grunting. It is a common urban legend that a duck’s quack doesn’t echo. This has been proven false, much like other urban legends. The most distinctive quack that most recognize is typically the female mallards quack. Mallard males make more of a rasping sound. Listen to the variety of sounds these noisy mallards are making!

Also, listen to these diverse ducks making all sorts of sounds;

You may also like: Check out These 15 Fascinating Birds with Long Necks Across the Globe: With Images, Facts, and More!

RELATED All About The Mandarin Duck — The World’s Most Beautiful DuckDucks Natural Predators

Ducks, duck eggs, and ducklings are always in danger of natural predators.

The key predators are;

Red Foxes

Raccoons

Skunks

Coyotes

Badgers

Mink

Corvids

Gulls

Not all of these predators would eat a full-grown duck, but instead, attack nests and eat duck eggs.

You may also like: Meet the 23 Different Types of Foxes and Where to Find Them: Description, Images, and More!

Navigation during Migration

Birds use annual paths called flyways to migrate. However, scientists are not positive about how birds navigate their flyways.

Possibly, birds have an internal navigation system that allows their bodies to follow the same path each year. It is also possible that birds recognize the same areas and landmarks each year when migrating. Another theory is that a bird’s beak will lead the way in migration, finding its way with smell.

Birds may always know which way is North.

You may also like: Look at the 225 Majestic Types of Owls: Description, Facts, Images, and More!

Ducks FAQ

a domestic call duck

Are Geese and Swans considered Ducks?

No, while geese and swans are part of the same family of ducks, they are not the same species.

What is the Classification for Ducks?

Ducks are in the class of Aves, Order of Anseriformes, andFamily of Anatidae

What is the Smallest Duck in the World?

The domestic call duck is the smallest in the world, weighing between 20 and 26 ounces (566.99 g-737.08 g), while also being absolutely adorable looking like a stuffed animal.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ducks

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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ducks

Jenn Savedge

Writer

University of Strathclyde

Ithaca College

Jenn Savedge is an environmental author and lecturer. She’s a former national park ranger who has written three books on eco-friendly living

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Updated March 9, 2022

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Ducks are found near both freshwater and seawater and on every continent in the world except for Antarctica. The following are answers to the most common questions about the ducks you see everywhere.

of 11

Do All Ducks Fly?

A Falkland steamer duck stands on the rocks. It's incapable of flying.

Gallo Images / Danita Delimont / Getty Images

Most species of ducks have wings that are short, strong, and pointed to accommodate the bird's need for fast, continuous strokes, as many duck species migrate long distances in the winter months.

But not all ducks fly. Domesticated ducks—particularly those that were born in captivity and raised by humans—usually don't fly because they don't have to. They have plenty of food and shelter where they are, and danger is at a minimum. But there are also a number of wild duck species, like the Falkland steamer duck, whose wings are so short that they are incapable of flight.

of 11

Is That a Duck or a Goose?

Ducks and ducklings are social birds and are known to become depressed and may not live long if raised alone.

Bob Elsdale / Getty Images

Ducks and geese are both members of the waterfowl family and share many common characteristics. For example, they both have webbed feet that function as flippers underwater. They also have similar broad, flattened bills and waterproof plumage.

However, you'll be able to tell these birds apart by their size: ducks are smaller and geese usually have longer necks. In addition, geese generally prefer grasslands, while ducks are often found near ponds or lakes.

of 11

Is It a Drake or a Hen?

An image of a drake mandarin duck, which is native to China and Japan.

Santiago Urquijo / Getty Images

A male duck is called a drake. A female is referred to as a hen. And baby ducks are called ducklings. So how can you tell a drake from a hen?

In almost all cases, male ducks have more colorful plumage, while the female's feathers tend to be drab and plain. This is because male ducks need to be able to attract a female, but the females—especially when protecting their babies and nest—need to be able to blend into their surroundings to hide from predators.

of 11

What Do Ducks Eat?

Domestic ducklings are fed a special diet that contains all of the nutrients they need to remain healthy.

Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich / Getty Images

Contrary to what you might see around the pond, the main foods ducks eat are not bread or popcorn. Ducks are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals.

Ducks feed on a wide variety of foods—aquatic plants, small fish, insects, worms, grubs, mollusks, salamanders, and fish eggs. One species of duck, the Merganser, mainly eats fish.

If you're looking to feed the ducks at a nearby pond avoid feeding them bread, crackers, or other human foods with no nutritional value. Instead, give them the types of treats they would naturally eat, such as grapes, birdseed, oats, and cracked corn.

What To Feed Ducks: The Best and Worst Foods

of 11

What's the Difference Between a Diver and a Dabbler?

A mallard duck dips headfirst into the water. This makes it a dabbler.

Henrik Gewiehs / EyeEm / Getty Images

Ducks can be divided into two categories—diving ducks and dabbling ducks. Diving ducks and sea ducks—also called scaups—dive deep underwater in search of food. Mergansers, buffleheads, eiders, and scoters are all diving ducks. These ducks are usually heavier than their dabbling duck peers—this helps them stay underwater.

Dabbling ducks are another category of duck. These birds live primarily in shallow water and feed by dipping their heads underwater to scoop up plants and insects. Dabbling ducks might also feed on land in search of insects and aquatic plants. Mallards, northern shovelers, American wigeons, gadwalls, and cinnamon teals are all dabbling ducks.

of 11

Do They Say More Than Just 'Quack'?

A male lesser scaup is generally silent and only makes soft calls during courtship.

Brian E. Kushner / Getty Images

Sure, some ducks do quack—especially female dabbling ducks. But other ducks have a wide range of noises and calls that they make.

From whistles and coos to yodels and grunts, ducks have a lot of different things to say. In fact, the scaup—a variety of diving duck—gets its name from the noise it makes which sounds like—you guessed it—"scaup."

of 11

Is It True That Duck Quacks Don't Echo?

A close-up of a female duck in a group, which would be called a raft, team, or paddling.

James Lesemann / Getty Images

There is an urban legend floating around that the quack from a duck does not produce an echo. As intriguing as this notion is, it has sadly been disproven.

Researchers at the Acoustics Research Centre at the U.K.'s University of Salford debunked this myth in 2003 at the British Association's Festival of Science.

of 11

What Makes Ducks Such Good Swimmers?

Close-up of a swimming duck's webbed feet.

GK Hart / Vikki Hart / Getty Images

Many duck species are as at home on the water as they are on land and in the air. Ducks have two unique features that make them such good swimmers—webbed feet and waterproof feathers.

A duck's webbed feet are specifically designed for swimming. They act as paddles, helping ducks swim fast and far, and because ducks don't have any nerves or blood vessels in their feet, they can easily tolerate cold water.

Ducks also have waterproof feathers that help keep them dry and insulate them from cold water. Like many birds, ducks have a special gland called a preen gland near their tails that produces oil. Using their bills, ducks can distribute this oil while preening to coat their feathers and provide a layer of waterproofing that keeps them slick in the water.

of 11

How Many Ducks Hatch in One Season?

It's a lot of work for a mother duck to keep so many ducklings safe from predators.

Buddhika Weerasinghe / Getty Images

Ducks usually seek out their mates in the winter. As they find a partner, they will stay with that one mate for the next year but then may move on to other partners for the next mating cycle.

For most duck species, the female lays anywhere from 5 to 12 eggs and then tend to those eggs in her nest until they hatch after about 28 days. The number of eggs that a female lays is directly related to the amount of available daylight—the more daylight she has been exposed to, the more eggs she will lay.

Mother ducks have to work hard to keep their brood safe and together while her ducklings are growing. Baby ducks are frequently preyed upon by hawks, snakes, raccoons, turtles, and large fish. Male ducks generally stay with the other males, but they guard the territory by chasing away predators whenever possible.

Mother ducks lead their ducklings to water shortly after birth. Ducklings are usually able to fly within five to eight weeks.

of 11

How Long Do Ducks Live?

Wild Muscovy ducks live between 8 to 12 years, while those in captivity live about 20 years.

Alamsyah Kundam / EyeEm / Getty Images

The lifespan of a duck depends upon a number of factors, such as what species of duck it is and whether it lives in the wild or is raised on a farm, as well as the number of eggs it lays (more eggs, shorter life).

In the right conditions, a wild duck can live as long as 20 years. Domestic ducks typically live from 10 to 15 years in captivity.

According to the book "Guinness World Records," the oldest duck ever to have lived in the United Kingdom was a female mallard duck that lived to be 20 years, 3 months, and 16 days old before she died in August 2002.

of 11

Do Ducks Have Teeth?

A peek into the inside of a Mallard duck's mouth.

Dagmar Schelske / EyeEm / Getty Images

Like other species of birds, ducks do not have any actual teeth, but many species do have rows of thin bristles in their mouths that help them scoop and filter nutrient particles out of the water. These bristles aren't teeth, but they sure do look like them.

Incidentally, this water filtering system is similar to the way in which whales feed in the ocean.

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Mallard Duck

Skip to contentSearchShopGamesPuzzlesActionFunny Fill-InVideosAmazing AnimalsWeird But True!Party AnimalsTry This!AnimalsMammalsBirdsPrehistoricReptilesAmphibiansInvertebratesFishExplore MoreMagazinehistoryScienceSpaceU.S. StatesWeird But True!SubscribemenuPlease be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Please be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.1 / 51 / 5Outside the nest, mallard ducklings often stay close to Mom. Outside the nest, mallard ducklings often stay close to Mom. Photograph by William Lehman, DreamstimeAnimalsBirdsMallard DuckMallard ducks are the most common and recognizable wild ducks in the Northern Hemisphere.You'll find mallard ducks near ponds, marshes, streams, and lakes, where they feed on plants, invertebrates, fish, and insects. Mallards are dabbling, or surface-feeding, ducks because they eat by tipping underwater for food—head down, feet and tail in the air—rather than diving. Mallards also forage and graze for food on land.Common Name: Mallard DuckScientific Name: Anas platyrhynchosType: BirdsDiet: OmnivoreGroup Name: Sord (in flight)Average Life Span In The Wild: 5 to 10 yearsAverage Life Span In Captivity: Up to 10 yearsSize: 20 to 26 inchesWeight: 2 to 3 poundsThe male mallard duck, called a drake, sports a glossy green head, a white ring around its neck and a rich, chestnut-brown breast. The mottled brown female mallard looks downright dull next to the male's showy feathers.The mallard duck's outer feathers are waterproof, thanks to oil that’s secreted from a gland near the tail. Beneath this tightly packed waterproof layer of feathers lies a soft, warm layer of feathers called down. Twice a year, mallards molt, or shed, their flight feathers, temporarily grounding the birds for several weeks until the feathers grow back.Check out where mallard ducks live.National Geographic MapsPlease be respectful of copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.Mallards fly in groups called flocks. Like most migratory birds, mallards fly in the famous V formation. During winter migration, mallards fly south in search of warm weather, often resting at the same spots year after year. Migrating mallards can travel great distances, relying on rivers, coasts, and valleys to find their way.A female mallard lays up to a dozen eggs in nests on the ground near water, often in a small depression or tree hole. She lines the nest with warm down plucked from her undercoat. Soon after birth, baby ducks, called ducklings, open their eyes. A little more than a day after hatching, ducklings can run, swim, and forage for food on their own. They stay in the nest for less than a month. A group of ducklings is called a brood. Outside the nest, the brood sticks close by the mother for safety, often following behind her in a neat, single-file line.Explore more!Amazing AnimalsWatch to discover interesting facts about animals from all over the world.Comeback crittersSee how animal species in trouble have come back from the brink of extinction.Save the Earth tipsFind out how you can help make a difference.Endangered Species ActHow this 1973 law protects animalsLegalTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy RightsChildren's Online Privacy PolicyInterest-Based AdsAbout Nielsen MeasurementDo Not Sell My InfoOur SitesNational GeographicNational Geographic EducationShop Nat GeoCustomer ServiceJoin UsSubscribeManage Your Subscription Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

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home » understanding-birds » bird-orders-and-families-world » Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans

Accipitridae - Hawk and Eagles

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Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans

Apodidae - Swifts

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Bombycillidae - Waxwings

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Ciconiidae - Storks

Cinclidae - Dippers

Columbidae - Pigeons

Coraciiformes - Kingfishers and Allies

Corvidae - Crows

Cuculidae - Cuckoos

Emberizidae - Buntings

Falconidae - Falcons

Fregatidae - Frigatebirds

Fringillidae - Finches

Gaviidae - Divers

Glareolidae - Coursers and Pratincoles

Gruidae - Cranes

Haematopodidae - Oystercatchers

Hirundinidae - Swallows and Martins

Icteridae - New World Blackbirds

Laniidae - Shrikes

Laridae - Gulls

Mimidae - Mockingbirds

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Otididae - Bustards

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Phalacrocoridae - Cormorants

Phalaropidae - Phalaropes

Phasianidae - Pheasants and Partridges

Phoenicopteridae - Flamingos

Picidae - Woodpeckers

Podicipedidae - Grebes

Procellariformes - Shearwaters and Petrels

Prunellidae - Accentors

Psittacidae - Parrots

Pteroclididae - Sandgrouse

Rallidae - Rails

Recurvirostridae - Avocets and Stilts

Scolopacidae - Sandpipers and Allies

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Vireonidae - Vireos

Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans

The 162 species of ducks, geese and swans are found throughout the world in all manner of wetland habitats from small ditches to rugged coasts (though they generally eschew the open ocean). They range in size from the small teals (weighing 250g-300g) to the swans, which may weigh 15kg or more. All species are aquatic, with webbed feet and a broad, flattened bill. Nearly all nest on, or beside the water, though a few, such as the Goldeneye nest in holes in trees. Ducks and geese produce large clutches of eggs (up to 10-15), though swans tend to lay fewer.

Swans are amongst the largest flying birds in the world with long necks and a wingspan of over six foot; most of the 7 species have an all-white plumage. The Mute Swan is found in parks and lakes throughout Britain, the other two species are winter visitors from their arctic breeding grounds.

Geese are intermediate in size between ducks and swans and most breed in the far north. The Greylag is the ancestor of all modern farmyard geese, though some wild birds do still breed in the northwest of Britain.

Ducks that occur in Europe can be split into three main groups: the dabbling ducks, such as the Teal, which up end feeding on weed and small insects on or just below the water's surface; the diving ducks, like the Tufted Duck which feed on the bottom for weed and small molluscs or insects, and so have feet set further back; and the seaducks, typified by the Eider, primarily marine species who dive for animal prey, with the mergansers actively pursuing fish and the like. The Mallard is the progenitor of the farmyard duck. Because of their colourful plumage, and ease of keeping, ducks are popular in bird collections and many escape each year - a further problem is that many species will mate with a bird of another species if the opportunity arises, creating confusing (but usually infertile) hybrids.

Regularly Occurring Species

Swans

Mute Swan

Bewick's Swan

Whooper Swan

Geese

Taiga Bean Goose

Pink-footed Goose

White-fronted Goose

Greylag Goose

Canada Goose

Barnacle Goose

Brent Goose

Egyptian Goose

Shelduck

Dabbling Ducks

Mandarin

Wigeon

Gadwall

Teal

Mallard

Pintail

Garganey

Shoveler

Ruddy Duck

Diving Ducks

Pochard

Tufted Duck

Scaup

Seaducks

Eider

Long-tailed Duck

Common Scoter

Velvet Scoter

Goldeneye

Smew

Red-breasted Merganser

Goosander

Occasional Visitors

Geese

Lesser White-fronted Goose

Snow Goose

Cackling Goose

Red-breasted Goose

Ruddy Shelduck

Dabbling Ducks

American Wigeon

Baikal Teal

Green-winged Teal

Black Duck

Blue-winged Teal

Diving Ducks

Red-crested Pochard

Canvasback

Redhead

Ring-necked Duck

Ferruginous Duck

Lesser Scaup

Seaducks

King Eider

Steller's Eider

Harlequin

Hooded Merganser

Black Scoter

Surf Scoter

Bufflehead

Barrow's Goldeneye

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Ducks Browse by Shape, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

s Browse by Shape, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of OrnithologySkip to main contentDonateBirdsLive CamsCoursesBird IDDonateSearchMenuBird GuideBrowse by ShapeSearchTaxonomyShapeShapesBackClick a shape below to see birds in the category.AuksBlackbirdsChickadeesCrows and JaysDovesDucksFinchesFlycatchersGame BirdsGulls and TernsHawks and FalconsHeronsHummingbirdsKingfishersNuthatchesOwlsParrotsSeabirdsShorebirdsSparrowsSwallows and SwiftsThrushesWarblersWoodpeckersWrensDucksAmerican Black DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserAmerican CootListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserAmerican WigeonListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBarnacle GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBarrow's GoldeneyeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBlack ScoterListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBlack-bellied Whistling-DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBlue-winged TealListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBrantListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserBuffleheadListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCackling GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCanada GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCanvasbackListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCinnamon TealListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserClark's GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCommon EiderListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCommon GallinuleListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCommon GoldeneyeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCommon LoonListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserCommon MerganserListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserEared GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserEmperor GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserEurasian WigeonListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserFulvous Whistling-DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserGadwallListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserGraylag GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserGreater ScaupListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserGreater White-fronted GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserGreen-winged TealListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserHarlequin DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserHawaiian GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserHooded MerganserListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserHorned GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserKing EiderListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserLeast GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserLesser ScaupListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserLong-tailed DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserMallardListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserMottled DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserMuscovy DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserMute SwanListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserNorthern PintailListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserNorthern ShovelerListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserPacific LoonListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserPied-billed GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserPink-footed GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserPurple GallinuleListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRed-breasted MerganserListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRed-necked GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRed-throated LoonListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRedheadListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRing-necked DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRoss's GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserRuddy DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserSnow GooseListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserSpectacled EiderListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserSteller's EiderListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserSurf ScoterListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserTrumpeter SwanListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserTufted DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserTundra SwanListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserWestern GrebeListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserWhite-winged ScoterListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserWood DuckListenMedia Player ErrorUpdate your browserAbout UsContact UsFollow us© 2024 Cornell UniversityCancel×Search for species name or keywordsSearchOr Browse Bird Guide by Family or ShapeNeed Bird ID Help? Try MerlinCancel×Don't miss a thing! Join our email listThe Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservati

tp钱包下载app官网正版|ducks

tp钱包下载app官网正版|ducks

Duck | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica

Ducks - Key Information, Facts & Pictures Of Ducks

Duck - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts

Waterfowl ID: Discover All Types of Ducks, Geese & More | Ducks Unlimited

30 Different Types of Ducks (Pics, Facts & Chart)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ducks

Just a moment...

Mallard Duck

Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology

Ducks Browse by Shape, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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tp钱包下载app官网正版|ducks

tp钱包下载app官网正版|ducks

Duck | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica

Ducks - Key Information, Facts & Pictures Of Ducks

Duck - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts

Waterfowl ID: Discover All Types of Ducks, Geese & More | Ducks Unlimited

30 Different Types of Ducks (Pics, Facts & Chart)

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Ducks

Just a moment...

Mallard Duck

Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans | BTO - British Trust for Ornithology

Ducks Browse by Shape, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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