Dabblers

Dabblers are ducks that tip up in order to feed, scrounging through shallow water and mud in
search of plants and insects, and these ducks will also feed readily on land. The most common
dabbling duck species is the mallard, but the northern pintail,American wigeon and different
teals are also dabblers

Diving ducks
Diving ducks are agile swimmers that dive far beneath the surface of the water in search of
food, including fish, insects and aquatic plants. These ducks prefer to stay in the water and can
be ungainly on land. Diving duck species include the scaups, goldeneyes, canvasback, rosybill
and redhead.

Sea-ducks
These types of sea-ducks are found in very northern, Arctic habitats, and theyre well known for
their lush down and its spectacular insulating properties that protect them from the harsh cold.
Eider species include the common, spectacled, Stellers and king eider

Goldeneye duck
Aptly named for their brilliant yellow eyes, goldeneye duck species are diving ducks
characterized by their big, round heads. They nest in tree holes and have sharp black and
white plumage. Goldeneye speciesinclude the common and Barrows goldeneyes, though
buffleheads are sometimes categorized as goldeneyes as well.

slim ducks
The most prominent features of these slim ducks are their narrow, serrated, hooked bills. These
are the only ducks that regularly eat a large amount of fish, and their bills are specialized to
make them keen hunters. Species include the hooded, common, and red-breasted merganser.

Perching ducks
Perching ducks have claws on their webbed feet and can regularly be found perching in trees
along wooded waterways and other areas with appropriate trees for nesting. The Muscovy, pinkeared, wood and mandarin ducks are example of perching ducks.

Scoters
Scoters are bulky sea-ducks with dark plumage and swollen, brightly colored bills. These birds
can be found in northern regions and along marine habitats, and species include the black, surf
and velvet scoters

Sea-ducks
Sea-ducks are so named because they are primarily marine birds found in coastal habitats,
though they can range further inland during the nesting season and migration. These are bulky
birds that have special glands to help them tolerate salt water. Sea-duck species include the
eiders, scoters, goldeneyes and mergansers. Sea-ducks are so named because they are
primarily marine birds found in coastal habitats, though they can range further inland during the
nesting season and migration. These are bulky birds that have special glands to help them
tolerate salt water. Sea-duck species include the eiders, scoters, goldeneyes and mergansers.

stifftails
The stifftails are aptly named diving ducks with spiky stiff tails which they use as rudders while
swimming. The tail may also be held angled or vertically as a breeding or territorial display.
Stifftails include theruddy duck, masked duck and blue-billed duck.

Teals
Teals are different types of dabbling ducks that often have brightly colored, distinctive plumage,
includingfantastic speculum coloration. These ducks prefer to feed along the surface of the
water as opposed to tipping up. Teal species include the cinnamon, green-winged and silver
teal.

whistling-ducks.
These tropical ducks have long legs and necks, unlike typical compact duck proportions. These
birds are named for their gregarious whistling calls, and species include the black-bellied,
fulvous and white-faced whistling-ducks.

DOMESTIC DUCKS
Not a wild species, domestic ducks are instead escapees from farms, gardens and zoos. These
ducks frequently congregate in mixed flocks on urban and suburban ponds, and their indistinct
plumage and mottled colors shows a high degree of hybridization with other domestic and wild
birds.