Female duck page

Identifying female ducks

Some female ducks are distinctive, most are not. Many birders, even advanced birders, seem to find identifying female ducks a chore (and it can be difficult), but most female ducks give enough clues to allow a positive ID without too much trouble, if you commit a few silhouettes and plumage patterns to memory.

Distinctive female ducks include:

Northern Shoveler, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, and Bufflehead

Northern Shoveler should be easily identified by its very large, flattened bill. Wood Duck females have a distinctive eye ring and white stripe behind the eye. Look also for Wood Duck’s distinctive head shape. Female Common Merganser has a bright red, serrated-edged bill and a shaggy reddish-brown crest. Female Bufflehead can be identified by its small size but proportionately large, dark brown head with white cheek patch.

RETURN TO SPECIES NOTES

RETURN TO FRONT PAGE

Unless noted, all photos by the author. If you would like to use one of my images, please ask for permission for non-commercial use with proper credit or commercial use with proper compensation.

ctalcroft@yahoo.com

A: Mallard (Anas platyrynchos), B: Gadwall (Anas strepera), C: American Wigeon (Anas americana)

D: Northern Pintail (Anas acuta), E: Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris), F: Gadwall, G: Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera), H: Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

Challenging female ducks

Most other common female ducks are similarly drab and therefore more challenging. Can you identify the eight photos below? Here's a hint: There are eight photographs but only seven species represented. Answers below. Photos are linked to pages with more information about each species.