Duck Identification-What the duck?

Written by Dan Milshaw Friday, 13 August 2010 15:26

What the duck!
As waterfowling season approaches it is very important for responsible duck hunters to become familiar with the colors, shapes, and characteristics of the numerous duck species found in the state of Florida. Shoot the wrong number of species and you can find yourself stroking a check to the FWC. Take some time to look at the below species. We hope this information helps you this year while you are in the marsh. Remeber to look for shape, speed and color!

 

 

 

Amercian Widgeon

These are nervous birds, quick to take alarm. Their flight is fast, irregular, with many twists and turns. In a bunched flock, their movements have been compared to those of pigeons. When open water is handy, wigeon often raft up offshore until late afternoon when they move to marshes and ponds to feed. The white belly and forewing are very showy in the air. Drakes whistle; hens have a loud kaow and a lower qua-awk. 

 

 

Shovelers

Shovelers, 'spoonbills' to many, are early migrants, moving out at the first frost. The largest numbers are in the Central and Pacific flyways. The usual flight is steady and direct. When startled, the small flocks twist and turn in the air like teal. They are not highly regarded as table birds, because one third of the usual diet is animal matter. Drakes call woh-woh and took-took; the hen's quack is feeble. 

 

Blue Winged Teal

Their small size and twisting turning flight gives the illusion of great speed. The small, compact flocks commonly fly low over the marshes, and often take the hunter by suprise. They are more vocal than most ducks - their high-pitched peeping and nasal quacking is commonly heard in spring and to a lesser extent in fall. These teal are among the first ducks to migrate each fall, and one of the last in the spring.

 

 

Cinammon Teal
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 field mark, as drakes are usually in eclipse until January or longer. Drakes have a whistling peep; hens utter a low quack.

 

 

Green Winged Teal

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 impression of great speed, but mallards can fly faster. Their flight is often low, erratic, with the entire flock twisting and turning as one unit.They nest as far north as Alaska, and migrate in all four flyways. Early fall drakes are usually still in full eclipse plumage. Drakes whistle and twitter; hens have a slight quack.

 

Wood Duck

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 left the northern states by mid-November. Frequents wooded streams and ponds; perches in trees. Flies through thick timber with speed and ease and often feeds on acorns, berries, and grapes on the forest floors. Flight is swift and direct; flocks are usually small. In the air, their wings make a rustling, swishing sound. Drakes call hoo-w-ett, often in flight; hens have a cr-r-ek when frightened.

 

 

Black Duck
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 ducks. Often seen in company of mallards, but along the Atlantic coast frequents the salt marshes and ocean much more than mallards. Flight is swift, usually in small flocks. White wing lining in contrast to very dark body plumage is a good identification clue. The hen's quack and the drake's kwek-kwek are duplicates of the mallards.

 

 

Canvasback

Normally late to start south, canvasbacks migrate in lines and irregular V's. In feeding areas, compact flocks fly in indefinite formations. Their wingbeat is rapid and noisy; their speed is the swiftest of all our ducks. Feeding behavior is highly variable. In some areas they feed at night and spend the day rafted up in open waters; in other areas they feed inshore mornings and evenings. On the water, body size and head shape distinguish them from scaups and redheads. Drakes croak, peep, and growl; hens have a mallard-like quack.

 

 

Redhead

Range coast to coast, with the largest numbers in the Central Flyway. Migratory flocks travel in V's; move in irregular formations over feeding areas. Often found associating with canvasback. In the air, they give the impression of always being in a hurry. Usually spend the day in large rafts in deep water; feed morning and evening in shallower sections. Drakes purr and meow; hens have a loud squak, higher than a hen mallard's.

 

 

Ring Necked Duck

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 wings of scaup. Faint brown ring on drake's neck never shows in the field; light bands at tip and base of bill are conspicuous. Fly as small flocks in open formation; often land without circling. Drakes purr; hens are usually silent.

 

 

Lesser Scaup

Except for the wing marks, greater and lesser scaup appear nearly identical in the field. The light band near the trailing edges of the wings runs almost to the tip in the greater scaup, but only about half way in the lesser. Greater scaup prefer large open water areas; lesser scaup often use marshes and ponds. Both species migrate late, sometimes just before freezeup. Flock movements are rapid, often erratic, usually in compact groups. Hens are silent; drake lesser scaup purr; drake greater scaup have a discordant scaup, scaup.

 

 

Goldeneye

These are active, strong-winged fliers moving singly or in small flocks, often high in the air. Distinctive wing-whistling sound in flight has earned the name of whistlers. Goldeneyes generally move south late in the season; most of them winter on coastal waters and the Great Lakes. Inland, they like rapids and fast water.Barrow's goldeneye, predominantly a westerner, is less wary than the common goldeneye. Hens of both species are look-alikes. Drakes have a piercing speer-speer - hens a low quack. Both are usually quiet.

 

 

Bufflehead

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 more hens and immatures than adult drakes. Very small size, bold black and white color pattern and low, swift flight are field marks. Unlike most divers, they can fly straight up from a watery takeoff. Largest concentrations are on both seacoasts and along the Gulf of Mexico. Inland, they will remain as far north as open water permits. Usually silent. Drakes squeak and have a guttural note; hens quack weakly.

 

 

Ruddy Duck

The ruddy duck often dives or swims away from danger rather than flying. When flying, their small wings stroke so fast they resemble bumblebees. They are early to mid-fall migrants. Drakes often cock their tails upright at an angle, the only species to habitually do so. Both hens and drakes are silent in the fall.

 

 

Red Breasted Merganser

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 direct, is usually low over the water. They are difficult to distinguish in flight from the common merganser. Voice: Seldom heard.

 

 

Common Merganser

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 common than the red-breasted merganser on inland waters. Flocks move in "follow the leader" style, low over the water. The only call seems to be a startled croak.

 

 

Hooded Merganser

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 States; seldom goes to salt water. Voice: Seldom heard in fall.

 

 

Whistling Duck

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. S., the black-bellied is found only in south Texas and Louisiana. The fulvous also occurs there and in Florida with occasional stragglers further north along both coasts and the Mississippi Valley. The fulvous is the more common of the two species in the United States. Sexes are alike. Both species have shrill whistling calls.

 

 

Scoters

The three scoters in this section are sea ducks, wintering on open coastal waters. White-wings are among the heaviest and largest of all ducks.

Like all scoters, these birds move along our coasts in loose flocks, stringing into irregular, wavy lines. Drakes can be distinguished from other scoters by two white patches on their head and bright color of the bill. Flight is strong, direct, usually close to the waves. 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. Scoters feed on mullusks, crabs, and some fish and very little vegetation. They are locally known as "coots".

 

 

Common Eider

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 chiefly along New England coasts and occasionally south to New Jersey. Other eiders - king, spectacled and Stellar's - occur in Alaska and are not pictured in this guide. King eiders occasionally are found in north Atlantic coastal waters.

 

 

 

Old Squaw

A slim, brightly plumaged sea duck. Smaller than the scoters or eiders. Flight is swift and low with constantly changing flock formations. Ranges along both coasts and the Great Lakes. One of the most vocal of ducks; drakes have a loud pleasant caloo,caloo, constantly heard.

 

 

Harlequin

Glossy slate-blue plumage enlivened by white stripes and spots give the adult male harlequin a striking appearance. The female resembles a small female scoter. At a distance, both sexes look black. Flight is swift, with abrupt turns. Flocks are small and compact. Ranges both coasts, north from New Jersey and San Francisco. Uncommon.

 

Swans

Once thought to be rare, trumpeter swans are slowly increasing in Alaska and on western refuges and parks. Whistling swans are common and increasing. They winter near Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Puget Sound and salton Sea. Occasionally found in fields. Both species are large with pure white plumage.

 

 

Brant

These are sea geese, the blacks wintering south to Baja California, in the Pacific. The Atlantic race winters from Virginia northward. Flight is swift, in irregular and changing flock patterns.

 

 

Snow Geese

Two races of snow geese are recognized: greater snows along the Atlantic Coast, and lesser snows elsewhere on the continent. Blue geese are a color phase of the lesser snow.

 

White-Fronted Geese

Migrates chiefly in the Central and Pacific flyways but also present in the Mississippi. Rare in the Atlantic Flyway. Appears brownish gray at a distance. Often called "specklebelly". Most distinctive characteristic of the V-shaped flocks is the high pitched call kow-kow-kow-kow.