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.
