Waterfowl Forums
Big Game Dog News Upland Birds   Fishing Hunting the world coming soon   Hunting Links Placement Identify Ducks Men   shotgun Women Place to hunt Decoys First Aid Gas Prices coming   Waterfowl Hiking the world Wildlife in the News   Care of Game Big Game Dove Quail Waterfowl		Identify  Waterfowl  American Widgeon American Coot Bufflehead Blue-Winged Teal Canvasback Gadwall  Common Golden eye Common Merganser Common Snipe Cinnamon Teal American Green-Winged Teal Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup (Bluebill, Broadbill) Mallard Mexican Duck Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Red Head Red-Breasted Merganser Ring-Necked Duck Ruddy Duck Wood Duck Goose Snow Geese Web Sites on Waterfowl Identification Duck Hybrids Sandhill Cranes     American Wigeon Body: Medium sized duck, 1 1/2 - 2 pounds, 18-20 inches long. Pinkish brown back and sides. White belly. Crown white or buffy. Glossy green eye-mask. Bill short, grayish blue with black tip and base. Feet grayish blue.Wings: Greater and middle coverts form white shoulder. Speculum glossy green shading to black. Voice: Whistle repeated in threes. In Flight: White belly. White wing-shoulder. White head-crown and black rump evident American Wigeon A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds American Coot Body: Medium-sized water bird not belonging to duck family but found in close association. Sooty gray with somewhat darker head, back and wings. White undertail coverts. Feet with lobed toes and sharp claws. Bill whitish or ivory with red markings. Eyes red. Wings: Overall sooty gray. Secondaries tipped with white. Voice: Quarrelsome high-pitched twittering. In Flight: Dark body contrasts with white bill and undertail coverts. Strong but reluctant flyer. American Coot A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds. Bufflehead   Body: Small duck, up to 1 pound, 12-14 inches long. White belly and sides with black back and dusky rump. Puffy-appearing head with multicolored iridescence and fan-shaped white patch. Bill short and bluish gray. Feet pinkish. Wings: Mostly black. Coverts and secondaries form large white patch. Voice: Squeaky whistle. In Flight: Small flighty bird. White belly. Puffy head. White head-patch and trailing edge of underwings evident.

Common Goldeneye Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population

Common Merganser

Body: Large bird, up to 3 1/4 pounds, 25 inches long. Black back. Belly, chest and sides white, tinted with pink. Greenish black head with narrow, serrated dusky red bill. Eyes reddish brown. Feet reddish. Wings: Middle coverts creamy white. Speculum white with black leading edge. Tertials pale creamy yellow; remainder blackish. Voice: Hoarse croak. In Flight: Elongated white body contrasts with dark head. Rapid wingbeat.

Common Merganser
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.

Common Snipe

Common snipe Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population ...

Common Snipe
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds

Cinnamon Teal

Body: Cinnomon body. Wings: Wing identical to male Blue-wing. In fall the male Cinnamon Teal is similar to the male Blue-wing except with blotches of cinnamon. The female Cinnamon Teal cannot be distinguished from female Blue-wing. Note: Rare east of the Rocky Mountains.

Cinnamon teal Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird ..

Cinnamon Teal
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.

American
Green-Winged Teal

Body: Smallest of puddle ducks, about 3/4 pound up to 14 inches long. Grayish with much vermiculation. Chest tan with dark spots. Belly white. White vertical bar on sides. Head cinnamon with iridescent green eye-mask. Bill and feet grayish black. Wings: Mostly brown with iridescent green and black speculum. Voice: Twittering whistle. In Flight: Very small. Flight swift and erratic. Males show white belly opposed to dark belly on Blue-wing and Cinnamon Teal.

Green-winged Teal The One I like to Hunt
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds

Green-winged teal Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird ..

Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup (Bluebill, Broadbill)

Body: Medium-sized duck, 1 3/4 - 2 pounds, 15-18 inches long. Gray vermiculated back with white sides and belly. Head purple-black. Chest and rump black. Eyes yellow. Bill light blue, short and broad. Feet gray. Wings: Dark brown with white flecking on coverts and tertials. Speculum white. Voice: Purr. In Flight: Rapid wingbeat. Dark head and chest contrast with white belly.

Lesser scaup Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population

Lesser scaup Identification tips
Adult male Ring-necked Duck similar in alternate plumage but has quite different bill pattern, black back, grayer flanks and vertical white finger just behind black breast. Greater Scaup is very ...

Mallard

Body: Large duck, 2 1/2 - 3 pounds, 24-28 inches long. Chestnut chest, white belly, dark rump and white tail. Head brilliant green. White neck-ring. Bill greenish yellow. Feet dull to bright reddish orange. Wings: Grayish brown with bright blue speculum bordered on leading and trailing edges with distinct white bars. Voice: Low raspy rink. In flight: White tail and underwings contrast with dark chest and head.

Mallard Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population ...

Mallard Identification tips
Adult male in alternate plumage is unmistakable. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males could be confused with Black Ducks, Gadwalls and Mottled Ducks, but note the blue speculum with white

Mexican Duck

Body: Large duck, 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 pounds, 19 - 22 inches long. Dark appearance similar to Mottled Duck. Head and neck buffy with distinct streaking. Bill of male yellow to greenish yellow; female bill orange with black spots or blotches. Feet orange to reddish orange. Wings: Purplish blue to greenish blue speculum bordered with black and white bars on leading and trailing edges. White bar on leading edge sometimes indistinct or buffy. Voice: Female, loud quack; male, low raspy rink. In Flight: Similar to Black and Mottled ducks. Note: Restricted to Trans-Pecos of Texas, Western New Mexico and Eastern Arizona.

Northern Pintail

Body: Large-appearing duck, 2 - 2 1/2 pounds, 22-27 inches long. White over neck, chest and belly. Head brown. Bill bluish with black strip down middle. Feet gray. Elongated black tail. Wings: Distinct gray with iridescent green speculum bordered on leading edge wth buff and trailing edge with white. Voice: Whistle. In Flight: Very elongated body. White neck and belly contrasts with dark head.

Northern Pintail
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.

Northern pintail Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird ..

Northern Shoveler
(Spoonbill)

Body: Medium-sized duck, 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pounds, 18-20 inches long. Rich cinnamon belly. White chest and tail. Head iridescent green. Bill black, long, broad and spoon-shaped. Eyes yellow. Feet orange. Wings: Lesser and middle coverts sky blue; greater coverts form distinct white bar. Speculum iridescent green. Central shaft of primaries distinctively white. Voice: Silent or weak took-took In Flight: Spoon-shaped bill and head appear large and carried low. White chest contrasts with cinnamon belly.

Northern Shoveler Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird ...
Northern Shoveler
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.

 Red Head

Body: Medium-sized duck, 2 - 2 1/2 pounds, 20-22 inches long. Back and sides grayish. Chest and rump black. Belly white. Head rounded and rusty red. Bill gray with white band toward tip. Feet gray. Eyes lemon yellow. Wings: Grayish brown with faint white flecking. Speculum dull pearl gray with faint white trailing edge. Voice: Deep meow or purr In Flight: Rapid wingbeat. Flock usually flies low in well-formed V. White belly contrasts with black chest and red head.

Redhead Identification tips
Adult male Redhead in alternate plumage easily is distinguished from Canvasback by yellow eye, blue bill with black tip, gray back and different profile. Females distinguished from female

Redhead Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population Studies

Red-Breasted Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.
Red-breasted merganser Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird ...

Ring-Necked Duck

Ring-necked Duck
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.
Ring-necked duck Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird ...

Ruddy Duck

• Small, chunky diving duck

• Long stiff-tail is often held vertically

• Dark wings

• Immature similar to adult female

• Alternate plumage worn in Spring and Summer

• Brilliant blue bill

• Black crown and nape

• Rust-red lower neck, breast, back and body

• White face

• Black tail

Ruddy duck Distribution Animation
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population ...
Ruddy Duck
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.

Wood Duck

Body: Medium-sized duck, up to 1 1/2 pounds, 15-18 inches long. Dark iridescence showing white flecking on cinnamon chest. Sides vermiculated tan. Belly white. Head-crest with distinct white stripes. Eyes red. Short multicolored bill. Feet dull gold. Wings: Coverts and speculum iridescent green, purple and blue. White bar on trailing edge of speculum. Silver-edged primaries. Voice: Plaintive squeal In Flight: Large head held high. White belly. Large square tail evident.

Wood Duck  
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds

Wood duck Distribution Animation (The Map does have wood Ducks)
Click on Map to find the season Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population ...
For More Infor Use Ducks at a Distance
A Waterfowl Identification

Goose

Body: Several size classes, ranging from 2 1/2 to more than 15 pounds. Blackish brown back and sides. Chest and belly vary from brownish to pearl gray with larger subspecies usually lighter. Head and neck jet black with white cheek- and throat-patch. Bill and feet black. Voice: Deep-throated honk. In Flight: Black head and neck with white cheek and throat evident. Immature and adult similar.

Canada Goose
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.
Canada Goose master list
Canada Goose Branta canadensis Species Information: Life History Data Identification Tips Photograph Song Breeding Distribution Map (BBS Data) Winter Distribution Map (CBC Data) Links to: Bird Population ...

Canada Goose Thumbnail Description
All regions but the West show swiftly growing populations of resident Canada Geese. These populations have adapted to country clubs and farm ponds and represent a new and separate population from those

 Snow Geese

Body: Medium-sized goose, 27-31 inches long, 4 - 6 1/2 pounds. Adult snow white; immature dusky white. Bill of adult pink with whitish tip. Immature bill, dusky. Bill forms "grin-patch" where upper and lower portions meet. Feet of adult pink; immature feet, dusky. Wings: Adult, snow white with black primaries; immature, dusky with black primaries. Voice: Harsh, high-pitched yelp. In Flight: Adult, snow white body and black wing tips; immature, dusky white body and black wing tips

 Snow Goose  Song
A presentation of bird photographs, songs, identification tips, distribution maps, and life history information for North American birds, and a forum for commentary and discussion on birds.

Snow goose Identification tips
The white morph of the Snow Goose is similar to widely-escaped domesticated barnyard goose. Note that the Snow Goose has black primaries and a distinctive bill pattern. Domesticated geese have ...
Snow Goose
Breeds from northern Alaska east along the Arctic Coast and islands of Canada to Baffin Island, south to Southhampton Island and along both coasts of Hudson Bay to the head of James Bay. 

*source of photo's for identification is Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Web Sites on Waterfowl Identification

 Ducks at a Distance A Waterfowl Identification

Duck Identification Using Wing Plumage
Procedures used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine the species, sex and age composition of the harvest of North American ducks using detached wings contributed by ...

DUCKDATA Home Page Mostly have titles of Books
DUCKDATA is a publication of the Biological Resources Division, U.S. Department of the Interior. This site is maintained by the National Wetlands Research Center, Lafayette, Louisiana . Web site last updated ...