Highlights of the article

• There are two types of ducks: mallards, which forage close to the water’s surface by flipping and turning upside down; and diving ducks, which dive to the bottom of lakes or rivers to find food.
• Ducks play an important role in their environment because they support healthy wetlands by consuming aquatic plants and insects, and helping to disperse seeds across regions during migration season.
• Each species has unique characteristics such as color and plumage size that make it easy to identify them from other birds. They also have unique behaviors such as courtship displays or migration patterns during different seasons throughout their range across the continent.

30 ducks in North America

Training Duck vs Diving Duck

Dabbling ducks are a group of waterfowl that use their distinctive bills to scour the surface and depths for food. These aquatic birds can be seen in both freshwater and saltwater habitats, often gliding gently over shallow lakes or undulating along rivers or creeks. Their short but broad beak allows them to feed by dipping their heads easily into the water.

The diving duck is a type of water bird that feeds by groping or diving underwater. Also known as sea ducks, they often have large, heavy bodies and long, strong legs. These birds dive to the bottom of lakes and rivers, picking up aquatic plants, crustaceans and small fish with their beaks.

1. Mallard

Mallards are a common sight in many parts of North America. The distinctive green head, brown body and white stripes on the wings make it easy to identify.

Mallards are a species of mallard, which means they feed close to the water’s surface, often by flipping on their backs and backs. They eat aquatic plants, insects and mollusks, as well as grains, fruits and seeds from land.

2. Wood duck

A common sight in many areas of North America, wood ducks boast eye-catching plumage with reddish-brown and white markings, as well as blue-violet heads and brilliant yellow eyes. Additionally, this species can easily be seen near wetlands due to its habit of nesting in tree cavities.

Wood ducks are known to be relatively brave and unafraid of humans, allowing for easy viewing from a distance. This has made them popular among birders and photographers alike.

3. Harlequin Duck

Standing 16-19 inches tall and weighing up to 2.2 pounds, the harlequin duck is a small sea duck native to the North American coast. Unlike its cousin, the Hooded Merganser, it does not build nests in trees but prefers aquatic habitats such as rivers and streams when the breeding season comes.

The male has a distinctive pattern of black, white and gray that gives it the appearance of being ‘dressed’, hence its name. Females have lighter colors, light brown head and back, white chest, gray brown wings and flanks.

4. American wig

The American wigeon is a common duck found in much of the United States and Canada. It can be identified by its distinctive white forehead, green head and brown body with white markings on its wings. The male has an iridescent purple patch on the top of its head and a bright yellow bill.

Females are similarly colored but have a duller bill. American wigwams are commonly found in shallow wetlands and swamps.

It feeds mainly on aquatic plants, but it also eats insects, crustaceans and mollusks. During the winter months, this bird will migrate south to warmer regions in the US and Mexico.

5. Northern bird’s tail

The Northern Sharp-tailed Duck, a distinctive duck with an elongated neck and a slender body structure similar to that of a Mallard, is native to North America. It makes its home in swamps, ponds, lakeside areas and coastal areas spread across the continent. Distinguished by their gray, white-tipped plumage and elongated tail feathers, males are easy to spot.

Meanwhile, females have unique plumage with brown, black and white stripes on their wings. These elegant birds favor shallow wetland habitats, which have abundant vegetation for foraging, as well as open access to water where they can forage comfortably.

6. Gadwall Duck

An extremely popular species of learning duck, the gadwall duck can be found in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Usually, they tend to occupy shallow wetlands such as ponds, lakes, swamps or even flooded fields for their living needs.

Gadwall ducks feed by submerging their heads and leaning forward in the water to find aquatic vegetation. Additionally, they consume a variety of insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and even smaller fish.

7. Common yellow eyes

The Common Yellow-eyed Duck is a charming duck that can be seen in North America. Its brownish-brown flanks, black back and wings, white head and neck with yellow eyes, gray-blue bill with dark tip make it an impressive sight.

This medium-sized diving duck thrives during the winter months on lakes and rivers before retreating north in the summer to boreal forest habitats located across Canada, Alaska, as well as some parts of the United States. North American states.

This species nourishes itself with aquatic vegetation, eggs from fish, molluscs, bugs, crustaceans and juveniles. It emits a high-pitched sound that travels long distances – making it one of the most noticeable sounds in its habitat.

8. Blue-winged teal

The delicate green-winged teal, the smallest member of all duck species, has an impressive emerald patch on its wings. This species has adapted wonderfully to various human activities throughout North America, making it a popular duck across the continent.

The ideal environment for these birds is shallow waters such as marshes and wetlands, as well as lush grasslands in which they hide during the winter months when migrating in huge flocks.

9. Northern Shovel

This small duck is native to North America and is easily recognized by its bright yellow eyes and large, spoon-like bill. It boasts beautiful male plumage with a bright green head with chestnut sides, contrasting with the mottled brown plumage of the female.

Both men and women show off their white breasts against their light gray bellies for an overall elegant look. This medium-sized bird has a wingspan of 26 to 32 inches and spends most of its time foraging near wetlands, lakes, swamps, ponds or shallow rivers.

10. Ring-necked duck

A distinctive species of diving duck, the ring-necked duck can be found throughout North America. They have an attractive black color

Their white k and head, along with a light gray chest, brown back and belly, along with a brilliant blue bill with an orange ring near the tip – all make them stand out from other birds.

Males possess brilliant iridescent green and purple plumage on their head and neck, adding a splash of color to quiet marshes, ponds, lakes and freshwater rivers across North America.

When winter comes, these ring-necked ducks migrate south from the northernmost regions of Alaska or Canada; come summer, they claim Canada’s boreal forests as their breeding grounds.

11. Green cinnamon

An American mallard, the cinnamon teal inhabits western North America. It features a beautiful cinnamon-red head and upper body combined with grey-blue wings. Males have bright red beaks while females have lighter orange-brown beaks.

Found most often in shallow swamps, ponds, lakes, and slow-moving rivers, these ducks are omnivores happily eating plants, algae, and insects. Gulls are popular targets for waterfowl hunters due to their large size and attractive plumage.

It is a migratory species, with individuals breeding in the western United States in late spring/summer before migrating south for the winter. Cinnamon birds play an important role in the ecosystem, providing food for larger predators and helping to disperse seeds.

12. King Duck

The resplendent king eider is a species of duck that adorns the waterways and wetlands of North America, especially in the eastern and central United States. These delightful birds prefer lush wetland environments with lots of emerging vegetation as well as open water for foraging.

Their diet includes aquatic insects along with small fish, mollusks, crustaceans, plants and seeds. Not only do they have diverse tastes, but their fur is equally vibrant; flaunting greenish-black heads and necks complemented by fiery orange beaks.

13. Buffalo head

The buffalo head is especially a favorite bird native to North America, with a large head and white feathers with black trim around the eyes and neck.

It prefers shallow wetlands near coastal waters in Alaska, Canada, and the Northern United States for habitat. This small duck confidently dives into deep waters to hunt for food such as aquatic insects, fish eggs or small invertebrates using its uniquely shaped beak.

14. Speckled duck

The Charming Spotted Duck is a duck species with a well-known range from the southeastern United States to Mexico.

Possessing a beautiful plumage with males having dark gray-brown feathers and females being mottled brown and tan, this species is of outstanding beauty as well as serving an ecological purpose: controlling insect populations by how to consume them.

With their long beaks, yellow legs and vibrant colors that stand out on their wings and bodies, they are certainly admirable for their beauty as well as their role in creating healthier wetlands across North America.

15. American black duck

The American Black Duck is a species of duck found in various regions of North America, from Canada to the Atlantic coast. This species stands out because it has dark plumage ranging from almost black to dark brown and can often be distinguished by its yellow beak and legs.

This bird plays an important role in its environment, as it supports the health of wetlands by consuming a variety of aquatic plants, insects, and other invertebrates.

It is also known to be quite shy and secretive, often nesting in wooded areas near bodies of water. Therefore, they can be difficult to detect without the appropriate knowledge or expertise.

16. Fewer failures

With a staggering population of 12 million during the 2018-2019 season, it’s no wonder why the lesser duck is one of the most widely distributed mallards in North America. It can be easily identified by its attractive plumage shape – dark head and neck, white sides, topped with a purple-blue bill.

Males have black feathers on their wings and back, iridescent purple in the sunlight, while females have mottled brown and gray backs. Smaller dregs feed mainly on small plants.

17. Mergers wear hoods

The majestic hooded merganser is a unique duck found in North America. Not only do these birds inhabit wooded wetlands in the northern United States and southern Canada, but they also migrate as far south as Mexico during the winter.

Its beautiful plumage sets it apart from other ducks: adult males have a white head with a black bib on a brown back, while females show off a mottled grey-brown body with a luxurious white crest on their head. .

18. Canvasback

The majestic canvasback duck is a species of duck native to North America. It has striking black and white plumage and is easily recognized by its long, sloping head, powerful body, red eyes and large beak. This species mainly eats aquatic plants such as tubers and underwater grass.

During the breeding season, males of this species are known for their incredible courtship displays. Couples will participate in synchronized swimming and diving rituals as a testament to their devotion to each other. This duck is also an important keystone species in North American wetlands, helping to regulate the growth of aquatic vegetation by consuming it.

19. Surfing car

A native sea duck that can be seen throughout the coasts and inland waters of North America, the surfer boasts striking black plumage with white markings around its face, wings, and tail feathers. The male has an orange beak while the female’s beak is mostly black.

Surfboarders primarily reside in shallow waters such as bays and estuaries, nestled between rocky or sandy beaches. These birds forage by scavenging along the shoreline for a variety of foods such as mollusks, crustaceans, worms, small fish, and aquatic vegetation.

20. Steller’s goose

The Steller’s Duck is a species of sea duck found in North America. It breeds in the Arctic and subarctic regions of Alaska and Northern Canada, and winters along the coasts of the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, and Gulf of Alaska. This duck has contrasting features such as black and white plumage, a long neck, and a large orange bill.

21. Whistling duck

The powerful whistling duck is known for its unique high-pitched call, which sounds similar to a whistle, giving this waterfowl its name. Adult ducks have a reddish brown body and wings, lighter colored feathers around the neck and head, and a long, pointed bill. Young whistling ducks are similarly colored, but simply have more spots.

In the Southern United States, this species of duck is most often seen in wetlands or even flooded agricultural fields foraging and nesting. Like to rest on trees, they are also conveniently called tree ducks.

22. Barrow’s Golden Eye

A species of sea duck that breeds in Canada, this medium-sized duck has a dark brown head, white neck and chest, and brown wings with bright yellow eyes. Barrow’s male Goldeneye has a beautiful black and white patterned head that is easily seen from a distance.

This specialist forager dives into the cold waters of the northern ranges to feed on fish, molluscs, crustaceans, aquatic insects and plants. It prefers shallow water habitats such as streams, lakes and swamps.

The Barrow’s goldeneye is a migratory bird, with the majority of the population spending the winter along the Pacific Coast of North America and in Alaska. During migration, flocks are often seen flying over large bodies of water in a V-shape.

23. Black sleigh

This species of diving duck can be found along the North American coast, easily recognized by its black head, neck and chest. The back is dark brown and the wings are light gray with a prominent white spot on the forehead and yellow bill.

Black Scoters can be seen in small flocks or singly in shallow coastal waters, estuaries and bays. They eat crustaceans, mollusks, fish, plant material and some insects.

During the summer months, Black Scoters breed in the boreal forests of Alaska, Canada, and northern regions of the United States. During the winter months, they migrate south to the California coast, New England and down to Mexico.

24. common eider

Unlike the King eider in that it does not have beautiful plumage like the King eider, the common eider is a large, stocky sea duck that prefers the icy waters of Canada.

A medium-sized sea duck, males significantly larger than females, male ducks typically have a black head and neck, a white patch near the base of the bill, and a distinctive black-and-white striped back. Females are somewhat quieter with dark brown plumage and a white chin and throat.

25. Ordinary merger

A member of the waterfowl family Anatidae, this large fish-eating duck breeds in the northern regions of North America. The male Common Merganser has an iridescent green crown, chestnut sides and a white chest, while the female is noticeably more difficult to identify with its brown plumage.

These ducks thrive in a variety of habitats, including lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. They prefer slow-moving waters with lots of vegetation and open spaces to dive for food. The Common Merganser is an opportunistic forager, eating anything from fish to aquatic plants.

26. Larger Scape

The Greater Scaup is a medium-sized diving duck native to North America. It is one of the most abundant and common duck species on the continent and is a popular game bird.

With a dark brown body and purplish-blue head and neck, males are slightly larger than females and can be identified by their bright white wing patches. Its beak is black with a yellow spot near the tip.

27. Long-tailed duck

A sea duck found on the east and west coasts of North America, this duck is known for its long tail feathers.

ers, can grow up to 8 inches long. Long-tailed ducks are medium-sized waterfowl, with a wingspan of 20 to 24 inches.

These birds migrate south in winter and can be found in coastal bays and estuaries throughout their range. They eat mainly small crustaceans, aquatic insects and mollusks.

28. Red-breasted Merganser

This large diving duck is a frequent visitor to the Great Lakes region in winter. It can be easily recognized by its elongated body and bright red head and bill. The red-breasted merganser is a migratory species that breeds in northern Canada and Alaska and can be found wintering along both coasts of the United States.

An excellent swimmer, this diving duck uses its long, thin bill to hunt small fish and crustaceans in the water. During the breeding season, these birds form large flocks that nest on the ground near water or in hollows of trees and bushes. The female lays up to 11 eggs, which are incubated for about 28 days.

29. eider wears glasses

This eider species is native to the coastal regions of Alaska. This is the smallest of the three eider species found in North America, measuring about 18 inches long and weighing about 2 pounds.

It has a white head, neck and chest with black spots or “spectacles,” which give the species its name. The back and wings are dark brown-gray.

30. White-winged Scoter

This Scoter is a medium-sized sea duck found in the northern part of the continent, from Canada to Alaska. The white-winged male is black with a white wing patch, while the female has a brown body with a white eye ring.

It dives for crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic insects, fish and plants. Nesting in large colonies near rivers and lakes during the breeding season, white-winged birds migrate to the upper United States during the winter.