Dabbling duck characteristics | • Shallow water, wetlands
• Dabble to feed (butt up)
• Diet mostly vegetation
• Speculum colored
• No web on 4th toe
• Tail high above water
• Mainly ground nesters
• Larger wings, slower beat
• Vertical take-off |
. | Mallard duck
• Male = Irridescent green head, yellow-green bill, brown breast, black rear
• Female = Mottled brown, orange / black mottled bill
• Blue speculum bordered with two white lines |
. | Northern pintail
Male = White breast, brown head with white line down neck
– Gray sides, black bill, sharp, pointy tail
• Female = Mottled brown, tan face, dark bill
• Green speculum bordered with buffy and white lines |
. | Gadwall
• Male = Gray-brown, finely detailed feathers. Black rear, black bill
• Female = Mottled brown, black and orange bill
• White and black speculum with red-brown patch |
. | American Wigeon
• Male = Brown-gray head, green stripe behind eye, white cap (mohawk)
– Brown body, white patches on sides, dark rear
• Female = Mottled brown
• Blueish bill with black tip
• Green speculum with big white patch |
. | Eurasion wigeon
• Sporadic visitor to BC
• Similar to AMWI
• Male = Reddish head, buffy crown |
. | Northern shoveler
• Huge bill that widens at tip
• Male = Green head, white chest, rusty sides. Black bill
• Female = Mottled brown. Orange bill |
. | Blue-winged teal
• Male = Blue head with white crescent behind bill
– Brown body, dark speckling, white flank patch
• Female = Mottled brown
• Green speculum
– White line, powder blue patch |
. | Green-winged teal
• Small dabbler
• Male = Brown head with green swoop behind the eye. Gray body, white vertical stripe, yellowish rear patch
• Female = Mottled brown
– Green speculum visible
• Bright green, black speculum bordered with white / buff lines |
. | Cinnamon teal
• Male = Cinnamon head and body plumage. Dark rear. Red eyes red, cinnamon coloured
• Female = Mottled brown
• Largish dark bill |
. | Wood duck
• Male = Distinctive head and body
• Female = Gray-brown with similar head shape as male. White patch around eye
• Blue speculum and coverts
• Cavity nesters |