Waterfowl Identification
Feb 23, 2016
Waterfowl Identification
Habitat
• Wetlands & ponds– Usually fresh water
• Food– Plants– Fish– Insects
• Drake= Mature Male Duck• Hens= Mature Female Duck• Duckling= Young ducks
Mallard
• Medium• Somewhat domesticated• Common
Pintail
• Extremely Shy/Wary• Long pointed tail
Gadwall
• Mistaken for a Mallard• More agile
American Wigeon
Wood Duck
Common Goldeneye
Canvasback
• Largest• Fastest• Bill Shape
Red Head
• Confused with Canvasback• Rounder Head
Ring-Necked Duck
• Whitish ring around tip of their bill
Shoveler
• Mistaken for a Mallard• “Spoonbills”
Green Winged Teal
Scaup
• Blue bill• White band along back of wing
Coot
Canada Geese
Snow Goose
Tundra Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Wilson’s Snipe
Sand Hill Crane
Great Blue Heron
Conservation
• Federal Duck Stamp– Required to hunt migratory birds– 98% of funds go towards waterfowl conservation
Federal Duck Stamp
• President Hoover started the program 1929• Stamps are available in every state and in a
few foreign countries