Ducks of Wisconsin By Jon Eis Adapted by Jim Melby

Eclipse Plumage Drake Spring plumage Hen Drake full eclipse Drakes emerging from eclipse * Most ducks shed their body feathers twice each year. Nearly all ducks lose their bright plumage after mating and for a few weeks resemble the females. This hen-like appearance is called the eclipse plumage. The return of breeding coloration varies in species and individuals of each species. * Wing feathers are shed only once a year. Wing colors are always the same. Drake Fall plumage

Dabbling Ducks Walk and run well on land Tip to feed rather than submerging Found in shallow marshes and rivers

Mallard Most common duck Drakes are called “greenheads” Enjoy feeding in harvested fields Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 24 in W: 2 ¾ lbs Hen Drake

Black Duck Wariest of all ducks Flight is swift and in small flocks Often seen with a group of mallards Eclipse drake Hen Drake L: 24 in W: 2 ¾ lbs Hen Drake

Blue-winged Teal More vocal than most ducks First to migrate in the Fall One of the last in Spring Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 16 inches W: 15 oz. Hen Drake

Green-winged Teal Smallest of all ducks Their tiny size give the impression of great speed, but the mallard can fly faster Flight is low, erratic with the flock twisting and turning as one unit Eclipse drake Hen Drake L: 15 in W: 14 oz Hen Drake

Wood Duck Early migrants Leave Canada by mid-October Feed on acorns, berries, and grapes Found by wooded streams and ponds Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 18 ½ in W: 1 ½ lbs Hen Drake

Shoveler Called “Spoonbills” The flight is steady and direct When startled, the small flocks twist and turn in the air like teal Eclipse drake Hen Drake L: 19 ½ in W: 1 ½ lbs Hen Drake

Pintail Longest of ducks Fast and graceful fliers Agile on land and often feed in grain fields Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 26 in W: 1 ¾ lbs Hen Drake

Gadwell Often called “Gray Ducks” The only dabbling duck with a white spectrum Fly in small, compact flocks Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 21 in W: 2 lbs Hen Drake

Wigeon Nervous and quick to take alarm Flight is fast, irregular with many twists and turns Drake L: 21 in W: 1 ¾ lbs Hen Drake

Wigeon The white belly and forewing are very noticeable in the air Eclipse drake Hen

Diving Ducks Stay around larger, deeper lakes and rivers Feed by diving to considerable depths Feed on fish, and aquatic plants

Goldeneye Fly high in the air in small flocks Called the “whistlers” due to their wing-whistling sound in flight. Drakes Eclipse drake Hen L: 19 in W: 2 ½ lbs Hen Drake

Bufflehead Very small Unlike all other divers, it can fly straight up from a watery takeoff Usually silent Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 14 ½ in W: 1 lb Hen Drake

Common Merganser One of the largest ducks One of the last to migrate south Flocks travel in a “follow the leader” way, low over water Eclipse drake Drake Hen L: 25 ½ in W: 2 ¼ lbs Hen Drake

Hooded Merganser Often seen in pairs, or very small flocks Short rapid wing strokes create an impression of great speed Seldom heard in Fall Eclipse drake Drake Hen L: 18 in W: 1 ½ lbs Hen Drake

Red – Breasted Merganser Found around the Great Lakes Hard to distinguish in flight form from the common merganser Eclipse drake Drake Hen L: 23 in W: 2 ½ lbs Hen Drake

Scaups Except for the wing marks, the Greater and Lesser Scaup look identical in the field Greater prefers large, open bodies of water Lesser prefers marshes and ponds Lesser Drake Greater Drake Greater L: 18 ½ in W: 2 lbs Lesser L: 17 in W: 1 ¾ lbs

Scaups The light band near the trailing edges of the wings runs almost to the tip on the Greater On the lesser the band runs only about halfway Lesser Greater Eclipse drake Hen

Canvasback Fly in lines or irregular V’s Swiftest speed of all ducks Rapid and noisy wingbeat Eclipse drake Hen Drake L: 22 in W: 3 lbs Hen Drake

Redhead Travel in V’s Associated with the Canvasback In the air, they give the impression of always being in a hurry Eclipse drake Hen Drake L: 20 in W: 2 ½ Hen Drake

Ringneck Brown ring around drake’s neck Light bands at tip of bill Similar in appearance to scaups, but found in fresh marshes and wooded ponds Eclipse drake Hen Drake L: 17 in W: 2 ½ lbs Hen Drake

Ruddy Duck Dives or swims away from danger rather than flying Both hens and drakes are silent in Fall Drake Eclipse drake Hen L: 15 ½ in W: 1lb 5 oz

Ruddy Duck Drakes often cock their tails upright at an angle This is the only species to habitually do so Both sexes have similar wing markings Hen and drake markings similar

American Coot Not Really a Duck! Black head, pointed white beak Reddish eye and forehead Dark Gray Body Lobed toes, not webbed feet Yellow-Greenish legs

Other Diving Ducks Feed on crabs and fish Considered sea ducks Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Common Scoter Feed on crabs and fish Considered sea ducks Found by the Great Lakes Top to bottom Immature, drake, hen

Other Diving Ducks More sea ducks Found by the Great Lakes Common Eider Harlequin Oldsquaw More sea ducks Found by the Great Lakes Common Eider can get to 5 lbs

Swans and Geese

Swans Largest Native Swan White plumage Short Black Beak Trumpeter Swan Immature Tundra Swan Largest Native Swan White plumage Short Black Beak Wing span of up to 3 meters Most in Alaska

Geese Canada Geese Snow Geese Immature Adult Lesser snow geese are found near Lake Michigan When young they are somewhat blue colored Called “Honkers” Similar Sexes L: 23-43 in W: 3-12 lbs Snow Geese Top to bottom Greater, Lesser

Canada Goose Dark head and neck with distinctive white chin strap Nest in Canada, migrate south in the fall Feed on grain stubble in the fall Return to same feeding spots several days in a row.

Snow Goose Have a high pitched yelp Juveniles more gray than white All white with black wing tips Head and neck features are usually stained with a rusty orange color

Waterfowl

A Goose that can fly…