In the Pacific Flyway, cinnamon teal are far more common than blue-wings. The hens look alike and the habits of both species are similar. The pale blue forewing patch is the best f...
Length--14½ in. Weight--1 lb. Stragglers migrate south in mid-fall, but the largest numbers move just ahead of freezeup. Most flocks in feeding areas are small--5 or 6 birds, with...
Length--17 in. Weight--2½ lbs. Similar in appearance to scaups, but more often found in fresh marshes and wooded ponds. In flight, the dark wings are different from the white-edged...
Greater--Length--18½ in. Weight--2 lbs. Lesser--Length--17 in. Weight--1-7/8 lbs. Except for the wing marks, greater and lesser scaup appear nearly identical in the field. The ligh...
Puddle ducks are typically birds of fresh, shallow marshes and rivers rather than of large lakes and bays. They are good divers, but usually feed by dabbling or tipping rather than...
Length--18-19 in. Weight--1¾ lbs. The trailing legs and rounded wings of these slow flying ducks makes them look bigger than they are. Both species are primarily Mexican. In the U....
Length--18½ in. Weight--1½ lbs. Found in all flyways; most numerous in the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways and fewest in the Central. They are early migrants; most of them have le...
Length--22 in. Weight--3 lbs. Normally late to start south, canvasbacks migrate in lines and irregular V's. In feeding areas, compact flocks fly in indefinite formations. Their win...
Length--26 Weight--1¾ lbs. These ducks use all four flyways, but are most plentiful in the west. They are extremely graceful and fast fliers, fond of zig-zagging from great heights...
Differences in size, shape, plumage patterns and colors, wing beat, flocking behavior, voice, and habitat--all help to distinguish one species from another. Flock maneuvers in the...
Length--23½ in. Weight--5 lbs. Thick-necked stocky birds, alternately flapping and sailing in flight; flocks string out in a line, close to the water. Occurs in the United States c...
Common--Length--19 in. Weight--2¼ lbs. Barrow's--Length--19 in. Weight--2¾ lbs. These are active, strong-winged fliers moving singly or in small flocks, often high in the air. Dist...
Length--29 in. Weight--6¼ lbs. Migrates chiefly in the Central and Pacific flyways but also present in the Mississippi. Rare in the Atlantic Flyway. Appears brownish gray at a dist...
Length--21 Weight--2 lbs. Gadwalls are most numerous in the Central Flyway, but not too common anywhere. They are often called gray mallards or gray ducks. They are one of the earl...
Diving ducks frequent the larger, deeper lakes and rivers, and coastal bays and inlets. The colored wing patches of these birds lack the brilliance of the speculums of puddle ducks...
Length--17 in. Weight--1½ lbs. Glossy slate-blue plumage enlivened by white stripes and spots give the adult male harlequin a striking appearance. The female resembles a small fema...
Length--21½ in. Weight--3½ lbs. The three scoters on these two pages are sea ducks, wintering on open coastal waters. White-wings are among the heaviest and largest of all ducks.
Length--25½ in. Weight--2½ lbs. This species is larger than the red-breasted merganser, and is one of the largest of our ducks. It is one of the last to migrate south, and is more...
Length--18 in. Weight--1½ lbs. Often seen in pairs, or very small flocks. Short rapid wingstrokes create an impression of great speed. Winters in the inland waters of all coastal S...
Length--20½ in. Weight--2 lbs. A slim, brightly plumaged sea duck. Smaller than the scoters or eiders. Flight is swift and low with constantly changing flock formations. Ranges alo...
Length--24 in. Weight--2¾ lbs. A bird of the eastern States, primarily the Atlantic Flyway and, to a lesser extent, the Mississippi. Shy and wary, regarded as the wariest of all du...
Length--19½ in. Weight--2½ lbs. In flight, drakes appear all black except for the flash of the slight gray underwing and the bright yellow swelling at the base of the upper bill. S...
Most ducks shed their body feathers twice each year. Nearly all drakes lose their bright plumage after mating, and for a few weeks resemble females. This hen-like appearance is cal...
Identifying waterfowl gives many hours of enjoyment to millions of people. This guide will help you recognize birds on the wing--it emphasizes their fall and winter plumage pattern...
Trumpeter--Length--59 in. Weight--28 lbs. Whistling--Length--52 in. Weight--16 lbs. Once thought to be rare, trumpeter swans are slowly increasing in Alaska and on western refuges...
Numerous and popular, Canada geese are often called honkers. Includes several races varying in weight from 3 to over 12 pounds. All have black heads and necks, white cheeks, simila...
Length--23 in. Weight--2½ lbs. These birds winter most abundantly in coastal waters, including the Gulf of Mexico, and to a lesser extent, the Great Lakes. Their flight, strong and...
Length--19½ in. Weight--2 lbs. Like all scoters, these birds move along our coasts in loose flocks, stringing into irregular, wavy lines. Drakes can be distinguished from other sco...
Length--15 in. Weight--14 oz. Quite hardy--some birds stay as far north as open water is found. The smallest and one of the most common of our ducks. Their tiny size gives the impr...
Length--24 Weight--2¾ lbs. The mallard is our most common duck, found in all flyways. The males are often called greenheads. The main wintering area is the lower Mississippi basin,...