17 DIFFERENT TYPES OF DUCKS IN NORTH AMERICA?

Puddle ducks, also referred to as dabbling ducks, are a type of waterfowl that float on shallow waters and feed by dipping their heads into the water without fully submerging. Types of ducks eat various plants, insects, larvae, and vegetation found in the water. Mallards, teal, wood ducks, widgeons, gadwalls, pintails, and shovelers are all examples of puddle ducks. Let’s learn about 17 types of ducks with Petlanloves!

17 DIFFERENT TYPES OF DUCKS IN NORTH AMERICA

Mallard Duck

The mallard duck is the most widespread type of duck globally, and most domestic ducks are descendants of this species. Mallards are known for their ability to thrive in urban areas.

Male mallards, also known as drakes or greenheads, typically winter in the lower Mississippi basin and along the gulf coast, but some can be found further north where there are open waters.

Mallard flocks often feed in harvested fields during the early morning and late afternoon before returning to marshes and creeks to roost for the night. Their flight speed is moderate. Female mallards have a loud quack, while the males make a low-pitched kwek-kwek sound.

Black Duck

This bird is commonly found in the eastern states, especially along the Atlantic Flyway and occasionally along the Mississippi River.

Known for being cautious and timid, they are considered to be the most cautious of all duck species.

Wood Duck

Wood Ducks can be found in all migration routes, but they are most abundant in the Atlantic and Mississippi routes and least common in the Central route. They start migrating early, with the majority leaving northern states by mid-November. Male wood ducks are known for their vibrant colors, making them the most colorful waterfowl in North America.

They prefer wooded areas near streams and ponds where they can perch in trees. Wood ducks are agile flyers, navigating through dense forests effortlessly. They often feed on acorns, berries, and grapes found on the ground in the forest. Their flight is fast and direct, usually seen in small flocks.

Pintail Duck

These ducks migrate through all four flyways, but they are most commonly found in the western region.

They are very elegant and swift in flight, enjoying weaving back and forth at high altitudes before smoothly descending to land.

Gadwall Duck

Gadwalls are most abundant in the Central Flyway, but they are not very common in other regions. They are sometimes referred to as gray mallards or gray ducks. Gadwalls migrate early and usually avoid cold temperatures.

They are the sole puddle ducks that have a white speculum.

Widgeon Duck

Widgeons are anxious birds that easily get startled. They fly swiftly and erratically, making sudden changes in direction. When flying together in a group, their movements have been likened to pigeons.

When there is open water nearby, widgeons typically gather in groups on the water’s surface until evening, when they relocate to marshes and ponds to search for food.

Shoveler Duck

Shovelers, commonly referred to as spoonbills by many people, are migratory birds that leave early when the first frost arrives. They are most abundant in the Central and Pacific Flyways.

Their typical flight pattern is smooth and straight. However, when they are startled, these birds fly in small groups and maneuver through the air with twists and turns similar to teal.

Green-Winged Teal Duck

Some birds are very resilient and remain in northern areas where there is still open water.

This duck is the smallest and most widespread. Despite their small size, they appear to be very fast, but mallards can actually fly faster. When flying, they tend to stay close to the ground and move in a random pattern, with the whole group moving together as a single entity.

Blue winged teal duck

The Blue-winged teal is the second most common duck in North America. Their small size and agile flight make them appear very fast. They usually fly in small groups low over wetlands, which can catch hunters off guard. They are known for being louder than other ducks, with their distinctive high-pitched peeps and nasal quacks being heard mainly in spring and sometimes in fall.

Cinnamon Teal Duck

Cinnamon teal are much more abundant than blue-winged teal in the Pacific Flyway. The females of both species have a similar appearance and behavior.

The most distinctive characteristic to differentiate them is the light blue patch on the front part of the wing, especially because male cinnamon teal are often in eclipse plumage until January or later.

Types of Diving Ducks

Diving ducks, also called sea ducks, are usually located in expansive, deep bodies of water like lakes, rivers, coastal bays, and inlets. These ducks elegantly skim the surface of the water before flying off. They are adept at diving to find food, unlike dabbling ducks that seldom go underwater.

Canvasback Duck

The Canvasback duck is a type of diving duck that is the biggest one in North America. It has been called bull-neck and considered the most distinguished duck species. The Canvasback Duck is a graceful and unique diving duck with a long, sloping head and a lengthy, black beak.

Redhead Duck

The Redhead duck is a medium-sized bird that typically weighs between 2 to 2 1/2 pounds and has a length of 20-22 inches. It has grayish sides and back, a black chest and rump, and a white belly. The duck’s head is round and rusty red, with a gray bill that has a white band near the tip. Its feet are gray and its eyes are lemon yellow.

Scaup Duck

There are two types of Scaup ducks: greater and lesser. Besides the wing patterns, both kinds look very similar when seen in nature. The light stripe near the back edges of the wings extends almost to the end in the greater scaup, but only about halfway in the lesser scaup. Greater scaup like to be in big open water spaces, while lesser scaup are often found in marshes and ponds.

Ring-Necked Duck

Ring-necked ducks resemble scaup in looks. But, ringnecks are usually seen in freshwater marshes and wooded ponds. The male can be identified by the vertical white stripe on its side and solid black back. The faint brown ring on the drake’s neck is not visible in the field. Ringnecks have noticeable light bands at the tip and base of their bills.

Goldeneye Duck

Key features of the goldeneye bird include its golden eye, round dark head, puffy crest, and wing patch. The male stands out with a special round white spot on its face. Goldeneyes are known for their active flying abilities, often seen flying alone or in small groups. Their unique wing-whistling noise during flight has led to them being called whistlers.

Bufflehead Duck

The bufflehead is the tiniest diving duck found in North America. It has a head that is white and black in color. Unlike many other diving ducks, it can lift off into flight directly from the water without needing to run along the surface. The male bufflehead features a large white patch on its puffy greenish head.

Ruddy Duck

The ruddy duck typically dives and swims to escape danger instead of flying. When they do fly, their small wings beat rapidly like bumblebees. They can be recognized by the white cheeks under their dark cap and their long, upturned tail.

Types of Geese

One of the main ways to tell the difference between ducks and geese is by counting the bones in their necks. Ducks have 16 or fewer neck bones, while geese have anywhere from 17 to 24 neck bones. In addition, geese and swans are recognized for having longer necks than ducks.

Canada Goose

Canada geese are the most widespread and familiar type of geese. They are easily recognizable by their black head and neck with a large white patch on the cheeks. Their distinctive honking sound is famous and easy to recognize when they are flying. They typically gather in big groups and feed on open fields near water sources.

Snow Goose

There are two color variations: white and blue. The mature white variation is completely white with black tips on its wings. The blue variation is more common in the eastern Great Plains but not often seen east of the Mississippi River. It has a white head, neck, and legs, but a dark-colored body.

White-Fronted Goose

The white-fronted goose is a medium-sized goose, weighing between 4 1/2 to 7 pounds and measuring 27 to 30 inches long. It has a grayish-brown coloration, with black bars on the breast and white markings on the face. The adult geese have a yellow-gold bill with some pink at the base and tip, as well as yellow-orange feet.

Types of Mergansers

Mergansers are impressive ducks known for their large size, elongated bodies, and graceful, pointed wings.

Hooded Merganser

The hooded merganser is the smallest of the three types of mergansers found in North America. They are usually found in forested lakes and rivers and rarely venture into saltwater. The distinctive black-bordered white crest on male hooded mergansers sets them apart from other ducks. Their quick, short wing movements give the impression of high speed.

Common Merganser

Common mergansers are among the biggest types of ducks and are frequently seen in freshwater environments. They are also known as sawbills, fish ducks, or goosanders. They are rarely spotted in saltwater habitats.

Red-Breasted Merganser

In order to hunt ducks, it is necessary to complete a hunter safety course and acquire a hunter safety education card. Our safety education course complies with the Safety Course Standards established by the Department of Natural Resources and the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA).