Ducks are aquatic birds belonging to the family Anatidae in the order Anseriformes. There are around 160 different species of ducks in the world, living on every continent except Antarctica. Some well-known types of ducks include the mallard, wood duck, muscovy duck, mandarin duck, and canvasback.
Ducks are generally divided into groups based on their preferred habitat. Dabbling ducks feed mainly at the surface of water, diving ducks feed by diving under water, sea ducks inhabit marine environments, stiff-tailed ducks perch on branches instead of floating on water, and whistling ducks have loud whistling calls. There are also perching ducks that roost in trees.
In this article, we will go through the major categories of ducks and describe some of the most common types in each group. Understanding the different types of ducks can help bird watchers identify duck species they encounter.
Dabbling Ducks
Dabbling ducks feed mainly on the surface of the water as opposed to diving underneath. They tip headfirst into the water to reach pond weeds, grasses, and aquatic invertebrates. Their legs are set further back on their bodies to make it easier to stand vertically in shallow water while feeding.
Some of the most common dabbling duck species include:
Mallard
The mallard is the most abundant and familiar duck species. Mallards have an iridescent green head, gray body, brown breast, and a distinctive blue wing patch. The males (drakes) have a curling yellowish bill, while females have an orange and black bill. Mallards are widespread throughout North America and Eurasia.
American Black Duck
As the name suggests, the male American black duck is mostly black with some iridescence on the head and wings. Females are brown. American black ducks breed mainly in eastern North America and winter farther south to Mexico and the Caribbean.
Northern Pintail
Northern pintails are graceful ducks with slender, pointed tails. Males have white breasts and brown heads with a stripe extending up the back of the neck. Females are mottled brown. Pintails breed across northern parts of North America and Eurasia.
Blue-winged Teal
Male blue-winged teal have slate-gray bodies, light blue wing patches, and white facial crescents. Females are brown-speckled. These small ducks breed in the Great Plains and Canadian Prairies. Some migrate as far south as South America for winter.
Green-winged Teal
The aptly named green-winged teal is nearly identical to the blue-winged teal, except for its green and white wing patches. It has breeding and wintering ranges similar to the blue-winged.
Northern Shoveler
Northern shovelers have large, spoon-shaped bills adapted for filter-feeding. Males have iridescent green heads, white breasts, and chestnut bellies. Females are mottled brown. Shovelers breed across North America and Eurasia.
Gadwall
Gadwalls have gray bodies with a black rear, rusty heads, and white wing patches. Females are patterned brown. They breed on prairies and marshes of North America. Gadwalls are ground-nesters.
American Wigeon
Male American wigeons sport green eye patches and white crowns. Females are gray-brown. These ducks breed in wetlands and marshes of western North America and migrate to the southern U.S. and Mexico for winter.
Eurasian Wigeon
This species resembles the American wigeon, but males have reddish brown heads. Eurasian wigeons breed in Iceland, Europe, and Asia and migrate south to Africa and India. The two species can hybridize where their ranges overlap.
Diving Ducks
Diving ducks swim underwater to catch food, mainly mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants. Their legs are set further back for superior underwater propulsion at the expense of walking on land.
Here are some of the most widespread diving duck species:
Canvasback
Male canvasbacks have distinctive reddish-brown heads and necks, black chests, and pale gray bodies. Females are light brown. Canvasbacks breed in the Prairie Pothole Region and migrate south to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts for winter.
Redhead
Redheads resemble canvasbacks but with rounded gray heads. Males have pale blue bills. Females are brown-headed with darker bills. Redheads breed in western North America and Mexico.
Ring-necked Duck
Male ring-necked ducks have glossy black heads with a chestnut ring around the neck. Females are gray-brown with whitish eye-rings. They nest in marshes and wooded swamps across Canada and the northern U.S.
Greater Scaup
Greater scaup males have greenish black heads, white sides, and gray backs. Females are brown. They breed farther north than lesser scaup, throughout Alaska and Canada.
Lesser Scaup
Nearly identical to greater scaup but smaller. Lesser scaup breed predominantly in the prairie regions of North America.
Common Eider
Eiders are chunky, large sea ducks. Male common eiders have black and white bodies and green heads. Females are brown. Common eiders breed along northern coasts and fly south in winter.
Harlequin Duck
Harlequin ducks have striking blue-gray and chestnut markings. Males have white spots between dark blue and reddish brown bands. Females are brown. They inhabit turbulent mountain rivers and coastal waters, mainly in northwestern North America.
Long-tailed Duck
Male long-tailed ducks have black and white bodies with enormously long, thin tail feathers. Females are mottled brown. They breed in arctic regions and winter along northern coasts.
Bufflehead
Buffleheads are tiny diving ducks. Males are mostly white with iridescent green and black heads. Females are gray-brown. They nest in cavities along inland lakes and rivers.
Sea Ducks
Sea ducks inhabit marine environments and only come onshore to breed. They are strong fliers and divers, feeding on mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. Here are some examples:
Common Merganser
Male common mergansers have dark green heads with wild, shaggy crests. Females are gray-brown. They breed near lakes and coasts across northern North America, Europe, and Asia.
Red-breasted Merganser
Males have green heads with reddish crests and white necks with black spots. Females are gray-brown. Red-breasted mergansers breed farther north than common mergansers, throughout Canada and Alaska.
Wood Duck
The colorful male wood duck has an iridescent green head, purple breast band, and white stripes. Females are gray-brown. Wood ducks breed in wooded swamps of eastern North America.
Black Scoter
Male black scoters are entirely black except for orange bills and yellow eye patches. Females are brown. They breed in the subarctic before migrating in large flocks along coasts.
White-winged Scoter
Male white-winged scoters have white patches on otherwise black wings and faces. Females are brown. They nest on the ground in open boreal forests and tundra.
Long-tailed Duck
Male long-tailed ducks have black and white bodies with enormously long, thin tail feathers. Females are mottled brown. They breed in arctic regions and winter along northern coasts.
Stiff-tailed Ducks
Stiff-tailed ducks have long, stiff tail feathers they use as props to stand upright on branches and other objects. This group includes:
Masked Duck
Masked ducks inhabit tropical wetlands in Central and South America. Males have bold black and white masks and chestnut flanks. Females are mottled brown. They float lazily on the water but can perch well using their stiff tails.
Ruddy Duck
Male ruddy ducks are rich chestnut with striking sky-blue bills. Females are brown. Ruddy ducks breed in marshes across North America and winter farther south.
White-headed Duck
This endangered duck has a tiny population in southern Europe and north Africa. Males have solid white heads and underparts, while females are brown. Their long tails help them perch in wetland vegetation.
Whistling Ducks
Whistling ducks have long necks and legs for walking on mudflats and marshes. They make loud whistling calls in flight. Species include:
Fulvous Whistling Duck
Fulvous whistling ducks have long, yellow bills and reddish plumage with black tails. They occur in southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck
As the name indicates, these ducks have black underparts and bellies. Their backs range from chestnut to gray. They are native to the Americas.
West Indian Whistling Duck
West Indian whistling ducks are mostly brown with pale spotting. They breed in the Caribbean islands and northern South America.
Perching Ducks
The following duck species roost in trees at night and nest in tree cavities or other elevated sites:
Wood Duck
The colorful male wood duck has an iridescent green head, purple breast band, and white stripes. Females are gray-brown. Wood ducks breed in wooded swamps of eastern North America.
Mandarin Duck
This Asian duck has incredible coloration. Males have orange “sails” on their backs, purple chests, and “whiskers.” Females are more muted brown. Both sexes have distinctive white eye rings.
Muscovy Duck
Muscovy ducks are all dark with bare red facial skin. Males sometimes have crests. Native to Mexico and South America, they also occur in the U.S. as an introduced species.
Conclusion
There are around 160 living species of ducks divided into several major groups based on their preferred habitat, diet, and other traits. Dabbling ducks feed at the water’s surface, diving ducks catch underwater prey, sea ducks inhabit marine environments, stiff-tailed ducks perch on branches, whistling ducks have loud whistling calls, and perching ducks nest in elevated cavities. Familiar ducks include mallards, wood ducks, canvasbacks, mergansers, scoters, and more. Understanding the types of ducks helps birders identify species in the field.
