Waterfowl Identification WFS 536 Heath M. Hagy & Matthew J. Gray University of Tennessee Why Know Waterfowl? • Wetland Indicators • Research • Build rapport with hunters / wetland managers – Game species – Charismatic • Law enforcement • Harvest surveys • Wing Bee Keys to Identification • Suite of characteristics – Wing characteristics – Body characteristics – Flight pattern – Foraging behavior – Vocalizations – Habitats used – Community associations • Practice 1 Subfamily Anserinae Tribe Dendrocygnini Tribe Cygnini Tribe Anserini Whistling or Swans True Geese Treeducks Fulvous Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) 13 in. BL 36 in. WS • Large, long-legged, long-necked duck • Dark bill and dark Legs • Chestnut Belly “Mostly Tropical and Nocturnal” Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) 13 in. BL 37 in. WS • Large, long-legged, long-necked duck • Bright Orange Bill and Pink Legs • Black Belly “Mostly Tropical and Nocturnal” 2 Geese and Swans Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) 40 in. BL 90 in. WS • Large, long-necked waterbird with entirely white plumage and black legs and feet • Neck held in distinctive "S" curve • Orange bill with black base; knob above bill Trumpeter Swan 45 in. BL Largest NA 95 in. WS (Cygnus buccinator) Waterfowl • Large, long-necked waterbird with entirely white plumage and black legs and feet • Long neck usually held straight up • Long, solid black bill that extends to eye but does not encircle it 3 Tundra Swan Waterfowl w/ the 36 in. BL most feathers 85 in. WS (Cygnus columbianus) (ca. 25,000) • Large, long-necked waterbird with entirely white plumage and black legs and feet • Long neck usually held straight up • Long, slightly concave black bill that extends to eye ending in a yellow “tear drop” Tundra Swan Mute Swan 4 Tundra Swan Trumpeter Swan 5 White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) 20 in. BL 60 in. WS • Medium-sized long-necked goose • Mostly brown plumage • White patch at base of pink or orange bill • Irregular black flecking on belly • Orange legs and feet Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) 19 in. BL 58 in. WS • Medium-sized Goose • Pink bill w/ black patch along mandibles Blue Morph White Morph • Throat white • Entirely white plumage • White-edged scapulars • Black primaries 6 Ross’s Goose (Chen rossii) • Presence of caruncles • Blue morphs rare 16 in. BL 45 in. WS Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 16-25 in. BL 50-68 in. WS 4-13 lbs Giant Canada Cackling Goose • Small to large long-necked goose • Black bill, head, and neck • White throat patch extends up to cheek • Brown back, upper wing, and flanks 7 Subfamily Anatinae Tribe Cairinini Tribe Anatini Tribe Aythyini Perching Ducks Dabbling Ducks Diving Ducks Tribe Mergini Tribe Oxyurini Sea Ducks Stiff-tailed Ducks Dabbling Ducks 8 Determining sex • Body coloration • Vermiculation • Bill coloration • Sex organs • Shape of syrinx Determining age • Tail feathers • Wing feathers • Cloacal exam Wing Feathers 1. Tertials a) shortened b) frayed c) striping 2. Coverts a) “buffy” edge b) mottled color http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/duckplum/ intro.htm 9 Notches Tail Feathers 10 Wood Duck 13 in. BL (Aix sponsa) 28 in. WS Drake Hen • Red bill and eye • Gray bill • Green head • White teardrop around eye • White throat and cheek and edge of secondaries stripe • White throat • Chestnut breast • Gray-brown head and body • Golden flanks Wood Duck Aix sponsa 11 Mallard 16 in. BL (Anas platyrhynchos) 36 in. WS Drake Hen • Green head • Orange bill with black • Yellow or olive bill mottling • White ring around neck • Dark cap and eye line • Chestnut breast • Mottled brown/tan • Gray belly and flanks plumage Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 12 American Black Duck 16 in. BL (Anas rubripes) 36 in. WS Drake Hen • Dark brown head & body • Dark brown head & body • Dark blue speculum not • Dark blue speculum not bordered by white bordered by white • Greenish-yellow bill • Green bill with black saddle • Bright red legs • Orange legs Mallard vs. Black Duck Black Duck Mallard 13 American Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca carolinensis) 10.5 in. BL• Very small-bodied duck 24 in. WS • Green speculum Drake Hen • Rust colored head with • Light brown head and body green post-ocular patch • Dark gray bill • Black bill American Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis ½ the size of American wigeon & no white in LC & MCs Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) 11 in. BL• Very small-bodied duck 24 in. WS • Green speculum BUT blue in lesser and middle coverts Drake Hen • Blue-iridescent head • Light brown head • White crescent patch • Dark brown crown • Buff breast & flanks w/ spots • Mottled gray-brown body 14 Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Northern Shoveler 14 in. BL (Anas clypeata) 31 in. WS • Spatulate bill Drake Hen • Black bill • Orange bill with mottling • Green head and yellow eyes • Tan head and brown eyes • White chest & chestnut sides • Mottled brown body 15 Northern Shoveler 2X size of Anas clypeata blue-winged teal & rachis of 10th primary BWTE NSHO 16 Gadwall 14.5 in. BL(Anas strepera) 35 in. WS • Average-sized bodied duck with steep forehead • White speculum (only dabbler) and black rump Drake Hen • Black bill • Gray bill with orange edges Gadwall Anas strepera 17 American Wigeon 14 in. BL (Anas americana) 34 in. WS • Gray-blue bill with black nail • White secondary coverts (grayer in females) Drake Hen • White crown • Mottled body w/rusty flanks • Green post-ocular stripe contrasting w/ head & neck • Rusty breast and flanks • Dusky eye patch American Wigeon Anas americana 18 Northern Pintail 18.5 in. BL (Anas acuta) 35 in. WS • Dull blue bill with black culmen stripe • Very long neck, small head and attenuated retrices Drake Hen • Dark brown head • Tan head lightly colored • White chest & neck extending mottled body into latitudinal stripe • Bronze speculum Northern Pintail Anas acuta 2X size of American green- winged teal & tertials different 19 Diving Ducks 20 Canvasback 15 in. BL (Aythya valisineria) 34 in. WS • Long sloping forehead and peaked crown • Black bill Drake Hen • Red eye, head, and neck • Brown eye, head, and neck • Black chest and breast • Brown chest and breast • Pale gray back & flanks • Pale gray back and flanks Canvasback Aythya valisineria 21 Redhead (Aythya americana) 14.5 in. BL 33 in. WS • Smoothly rounded head • Dark wing with grayish secondaries Drake Hen • Red head & neck; yellow eye! • Brown eye, head, and neck • Blue bill w/ white ring before • Blue-gray bill w/ faint white black tip ring before black tip Redhead vs. Canvasback Canvasback Redhead 22 Ring-necked Duck 12 in. BL (Aythya collaris) 28 in. WS • Bill with white semi-terminal ring • White/cream-colored ring at base of bill Drake Hen • Purple head & neck; yellow eye • Brown eye, head, and neck • Gray flanks with vertical white • Faint white eye ring and finger near black chest solid white ring before tip Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris 23 Lesser Scaup Greater Scaup (Aythya affinis) (Aythya marila) 12 in. BL 29 in. WS 13 in. BL 31 in. WS • Purplish head • Greenish head • White on wing restricted • White on speculum extends to speculum to primaries • Body size • Body size Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Lesser vs. Greater Scaup Lesser Greater 24 Lesser Greater Common Goldeneye 13 in. BL (Bucephala clangula) 31 in. WS • Short, stubby bill • Body rides low in water Drake Hen • Green head & neck; yellow eye • Redish-brown head • White circular cheek patch • Terminus of bill light colored • All white chest, breast, flanks • Gray body 25 Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) CGE BGE 13 in. BL 31 in. WS • Steeply sloped forehead • Purplish head and large crest • White tear-drop shaped cheek patch • White neck, breast and belly • Dark back Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Female Male 26 Bufflehead 10 in. BL(Bucephala albeola) 24 in. WS • “Smallest duck in North America” • Very small dark gray bill Drake Hen • Dark iridescent head • Dull brown head • Large white patch extending • White longitudinal stripe on from back of head to eye cheek • White body • Brown body Bufflehead ½ the size of Bucephala albeola common goldeneye 27 Hooded Merganser 13 in. BL (Lophodytes cucullatus) 26 in. WS • Long, pointed serrated bill • Fan-like crest, small body, yellow eye Drake Hen • Black forehead, cheek, & crest • Brown head, neck, flanks, • White cheek/crest patch not back, and wings w/ paler breast extending to eye • Faint reddish tinge to crest Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus 28 Common Merganser 18 in. BL (Mergus merganser) 37 in. WS • Long, pointed serrated bill that is thick at base • Brown eye Drake Hen • Dark green head with no crest • Copper-colored head with crisp • White body and black back chest separation • Distinct white chin patch Common Merganser Red- Breasted Common 29 Ruddy Duck 11 in. BL (Oxyura jamaicensis) 23 in. WS • Small, chunky diving duck with flat, wide bill • Long stiff retrices that are often held vertically Drake Hen • Bright blue bill • Dull brown bill • Rust colored body • Dusky longitudinal cheek stripe • White cheek & under tail coverts • Gray-brown body Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis 30 North American Waterfowl NOT Required for WFS 536 Emperor Goose (Chen canagica) 18 in. BL 43 in. WS • Mostly gray plumage with black and white feather edging • White head and neck • Black throat and foreneck • Pink bill Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) 17 in. BL “Largest Duck in NA” 41 in. WS • Bill feathered along side almost to nostril • Long sloping forehead • Black crown; light green back of head • All white chest & breast; black belly & sides 31 Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) 15 in. BL 36 in. WS Endangered •Bill feathered along side almost to nostril • Long sloping forehead •Pale green head w/ large white patch around eye • Yellow bill; black under- & white upper-parts King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) 16 in. BL 37 in. WS “The most northern of the eiders” • Bill feathered partly along side • Steep forehead • Pale blue crown & back of head; green cheek • Yellow forehead outlined in black; orange bill White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) 16 in.