I bet you’re surprised by the number of duck species spotted in Florida, despite the fact that most people know a few.
With photo IDs and summaries, audio recordings of their calls, interesting facts, and more, this guide will help you identify all the ducks species found in Florida. Additionally, with the help of information like ‘where is the white,’ you might identify ducks in this article.
Several subfamilies of ducks exist, including swans and geese, although some species are divided into various groups.
Ducks consume both plants and animals, particularly insects, crustaceans, and tiny fish. Both in water and on land, they’ll eat plants.
Ducks utilize their beaks to grasp vegetation and filter food via the water, and they have hard pointed structures called lamellae around the border of their beaks.
Drakes are the male equivalent of ducks, and they are more vivid. Ducks or hens are the terms for female ducks. The mallard is the ancestor of all domesticated ducks.
According to avibase and the American Birding Association, this guide will assist you identify the kinds of ducks seen in Florida that are considered to be frequently seen. It uses data collected from birdwatchers on ebird to provide true information about when they may be seen.
Ducks In Florida By Season
Ducks in Florida all year: Eurasian Wigeon, Mottled Duck, Common Eider, and Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Ducks in Florida in winter: Gadwall, Northern Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Redhead, Ruddy Duck: Black Scoter: White-winged Scoter
Types Of Ducks In Florida:
In Florida, 11 distinct varieties of dabbling ducks, 8 distinct varieties of diving ducks, and 9 distinct varieties of sea ducks have been discovered.
Dabbling Ducks (11 Species)
Dabbling ducks are waterfowl that feed by tilting their heads underwater and their rump underwater.
They take little ‘bites’ or “nibbles” of water to filter out plants as they sweep their heads from side to side. For seeds and grain, or insects, they also feed on land.
Wood Ducks, Mandarin Ducks, and Muscovy Ducks are all under discussion as to whether or not they should be classified as a separate subfamily.
1. Blue-winged Teal
From October through April, blue-winged Teals are most commonly seen in Florida, although they may stay all year. They are found in 10% of the state’s winter bird checklist, according to birdwatchers.
Anatidae family includes blue-winged teals, which are little ducks. Their eyes are surrounded by a white crescent, and their head is bluish-gray. From the chest to the tail, they have a spotted brown body.
A clear blue patch on the shoulders, surrounded by green and white, appears when their wings are spread. Females have no distinctive white patterns on their faces, but they have the same scaly, brown pattern on their bodies.
- Spatula discors
- Length: 38 – 43 cm (15 – 17 in)
- Weight: 544 g (19.18 oz)
- Wingspan: 58 – 79 cm (23 -31 in)
Before flying to Florida, the Gulf Coast, southern West Coast, Mexico, Central and northern South America, and the Caribbean, blue-winged Teals breed in the United States and Canada.
Shorelines with calm or sluggish water are ideal for finding Blue-winged Teals, as are lakes and ponds with protruding trees and rocks. In addition, they may be found near shallow water bodies with abundant vegetation, such as marsh and swamps. Northern prairies and parklands are where you’ll find them during the breeding season.
The majority of Blue-winged Teals feed on surface-dwelling aquatic plants. During breeding season, they may also eat aquatic insects.
Blue-winged Calls: Females also make high-pitched chattering noises and quack.
Blue-winged Teal nests are most commonly seen near a water source and in a hollow in the ground, protected by tall grasses. They’re lined with down and constructed of grass and weeds.
Females lay up to fifteen eggs, which they sit on for 2 to 3 weeks. After hatching, the tiny ducklings may be able to walk for a few hours, but it takes them until six to seven weeks to fly.
Blue-winged Teals have the highest mortality rate among dabbling ducks because of their long, over-ocean migration patterns.
2. Muscovy Duck
Muscovy Ducks, which were brought to Florida and live here year-round, are an invasive species. Summer and winter checklists may include them up to 5% of the time.
Muscovy Ducks come in both wild and domesticated forms. Ducks have a less evident white wing patch and are glossy and dark in color. Males have a small nape crest.
The dark brown, white, and black coloring of domesticated Muscovy Ducks may vary. The red, wart-like spots on the faces of both varieties of Muscovy Ducks are identical.
- Cairina moschata
- Length: 64 – 89 cm (25 35 in)
- Weight: 2902 g (102.4 oz)
- Wingspan: 137 – 152 cm (54 – 60 in)
Mexico, Central America, and South America are the primary home of Muscovy Ducks. Yet, in many locations, escaped domesticated Muscovy ducks may be discovered.
In woodlands with a water source, you may spot wild Muscovy Ducks. In farms and parks, domesticated Muscovy Ducks live.
Wild Muscovy Ducks hunt for food in shallow marshlands. Humans feeding domesticated Muscovy Ducks in parks are safe. They enjoy seed and plant “dipping.”
Muscovy Duck nests may be discovered in hollow trees. Nest boxes are a favorite of theirs as well. For around a month, a female sits on around ten eggs and nurtures them alone. For an extra ten to twelve weeks after birth, the female remains in charge of her babies.
Fun Fact: Since the flesh of Muscovy Ducks has a stronger flavor than that of other ducks, they have been domesticated for a long time.
3. Wood Duck
Male
Female
All year in Florida, you may find Wood Ducks. Summer checklists have them at 5% and winter checklists at 2%.
Green heads with a protruding rear crest and black and white patterns, as well as red eyes, are characteristic of male Wood Ducks. These are definitely birds with amazing hairstyles.
Their chests are reddish-brown, sides are buff, backs and tails are brown, and their markings include white. Flashes of blue run through their bodies.
Brown females have black eyes and brown heads with grayish-brown hair. On their wings, they have blue patches called speculum.
- Scientific Name: Aix sponsa
- Length: 18.5-21.3 in (47-54 cm)
- Weight: 16.0-30.4 oz (454-862 g)
- Wingspan: 26.0-28.7 in (66-73 cm)
Eastern US states, as well as the Pacific Coast and sections of the northwest, are home to Wood Ducks. Northern wood ducks migrate to southern states and Mexico for the winter, breeding along the Canada-US border.
Wood Ducks feed on seeds, fruit, and insects in the water, but they will also feed on land in fields and forests. They can be found in wooded swamps.
Wood Ducks Calls:
Female Wood Ducks emit a unique two-note cry whereas male Wood Ducks emit a rising whistle.
Wood Duck nests are frequently found near to water, and may be as high as 60 feet from the forest floor. Down feathers plucked from the breasts of females are used to line the nest. The young use their clawed feet to climb out before jumping out, and they lay up to sixteen eggs, which take 4 or 5 weeks to hatch.
Fun Fact: The eggs of female Wood Ducks are often raised by others in other Wood Duck nests.
4. Mallard
Throughout the year, mallards may be seen in Florida. Summer and winter checklists for the state have up to 3% of them listed.
The males of mallards, which are huge ducks, feature a vivid green head. They have gray bodies with brown breasts and black at the tail, as well as brilliant yellow bills. They have a blue patch on their wings, which is known as a speculum, and a curled tail feather.
The females and juveniles have the blue speculum, although they are mottled brown with orange bills.
- Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos
- Length: 19.7-25.6 in (50-65 cm)
- Weight: 35.3-45.9 oz (1000-1300 g)
- Wingspan: 32.3-37.4 in (82-95 cm)
In most of the lower 48 and on Canada’s western shore, mallards may be found year-round. The southern United States and northern Mexico are home to those that breed in Canada and Alaska.
Mallards are a popular sight in ponds and rivers, and they will gladly accept food. They are non-diving ducks that eat water plants and dabble. They’ve been documented to live 27 years and are very long-lived.
Mallard nests are found on land but near water. They’re frequently built in a depression on the ground, filled with vegetation gathered from the surrounding area, and are usually concealed beneath overhanging grass.
The ducklings are ready to leave the nest almost immediately after laying up to thirteen eggs, which take approximately 3 to 4 weeks to hatch.
Fun Fact: Mallards are the origin of most domesticated ducks, and they have been hunted and fattened for food.
5. Northern Shoveler
From October to April, Northern Shovelers can be found in Florida, where they make up 3% of checklists at this time.
Males of the Northern Shovelers have green heads and enormous spoon-shaped black beaks, making them easy to spot. They are dabbling ducks. Their sides are reddish-brown, their chests are white, and their backs are black. On the wings of males, there are blue patches.
Females have large orange beaks and a mottled brown shoulder patch.
- Scientific Name: Spatula clypeata
- Length: 17.3-20.1 in (44-51 cm)
- Weight: 14.1-28.9 oz (400-820 g)
- Wingspan: 27.2-33.1 in (69-84 cm)
Throughout the winter, Northern Shovelers can be found on the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts of the United States, as well as up to Canada. In the summer, they move to Canada’s western parts and northern United States to breed. The Great Lakes are also home to some breeders.
Northern Shovelers may be found in shallow, stagnant water in sociable groups.
Shovelers filter their food out by stirring up the bottom and swinging their bills from side to side through the water, which includes crustaceans, invertebrates, and certain seeds. After capturing any food, they use comblike projections known as lamellae along the margin of their bills to push water out.
The ground is where Northern Shovelers breed in close proximity to water. They lay ten eggs, which take three to four weeks to hatch. Ducklings are able to walk and swim right away.
Fun Fact: To help stir up the bottom for feeding, Northern Shovelers will sometimes form huge congregations that swim in circles.
6. Green-winged Teal
Male
Female
In Florida, green-winged teal are primarily seen from November to March as winter birds. On winter checklists, they account for 2% of the checks.
Little dabbling ducks with green wings are called Green-winged Teal. A green stripe runs down the sides of male heads. They have grayish bodies and brown heads on the remainder of their heads.
Brown with a yellow stripe down the back, females are brown. A green wing patch is seen on both males and females.
- Scientific Name: Anas crecca
- Length: 12.2-15.3 in (31-39 cm)
- Weight: 4.9-17.6 oz (140-500 g)
- Wingspan: 20.5-23.2 in (52-59 cm)
The majority of Green-winged Teal travel from Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States to southern United States and the Pacific Coast during breeding season. The Rocky Mountains, on the other hand, are home to a few ducks all year.
Green-winged Teal may be found in huge flocks of up to 50 thousand birds on flooded land and small ponds. Invertebrates and seeds are their sources of food.
Green-winged Teal nests are often found in thick vegetation, such as grass or brush.
Green-winged Teal nests are found near water in meadows and grasslands. They lay nine eggs, which take 3 weeks to hatch. Ducklings are almost ready to leave the nest as soon as they hatch.
Fun Fact: To take off, Green-winged Teal don’t have to fly across the water’s surface. Because they are so agile, they may fly straightaway.
7. American Wigeon
Male
Female
During the winter, American Wigeons can be found in Florida and account for 2% of checklists. From November to March, they are most often seen here.
The males of American Wigeons have white heads and green stripes on the sides of their heads. They are all brownish-gray in color.
Brown females with grayish-brown heads. Both males and femen have light beaks.
- Scientific Name: Mareca americana
- Length: 16.5-23.2 in (42-59 cm)
- Weight: 19.1-46.9 oz (540-1330 g)
- Wingspan: 33.1 in (84 cm)
Alaska, western Canada, and the northern United States are home to the American Wigeon. They spend the winter in the southern and central US, as well as on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
In wetlands, fields, and ponds, you may see American Wigeon eating vegetation both in the water and on land. Insects and invertebrates will be eaten as well.
In fields and grasslands, nests of American Wigeon are found far from any water. They lay up to 13 eggs that take 2 to 3 weeks to hatch, lining the depression in the ground with grass, reeds, and down feathers. Ducklings are almost immediately out of the nest.
Fun Fact: Because of the resemblance of their white stripe to a bald man’s head, American Wigeons are called ‘baldpate.’
8. Gadwall
From mid-September to May, Gadwall reside in Florida. At this time, they exist on 1% of all checklists.
Despite their subdued coloring, Gadwalls are huge dabbling ducks that stand out. Gadwalls have dark-brown heads, black, scaled designs on the breast and shoulder, gray or white on their bellies, and black bottoms. Compared to other brilliant and colorful dabbling ducks, they are modestly colored.
A little white patch on their wings can be seen while in the air. Females have a more diffuse scale pattern on their shoulder, back, chest, and bottom than males do.
- Mareca strepera
- Length: 48 – 58 cm (19 – 23 in)
- Weight: 1000 g (35.27 oz)
- Wingspan: 79 – 91 cm (31 – 36 in)
Before moving to central and southern US states, as well as Mexico, Gadwalls breed on the plains of the United States and Canada. On the West Coast, some remain year-round.
Gadwalls may be found in open meadows, fields, and marshes with heavy vegetation. Gadwalls may be seen in saltwater marshes, parks, reservoirs, and muddy estuaries throughout the winter.
Dabbling in shallow water is how Gadwalls feed themselves. They lower their heads until they can grab underwater plants and other items. Insects are sometimes eaten by them.
Male Gadwalls emit short reedy whistles followed by a quack, which they call. Females quack and sound like mallards, too.
Because they are concealed in thick vegetation near water, Gadwalls’ nests are sometimes difficult to locate. Grass and weeds are used to make them, and feathers are used to line them. A nest may have up to 15 eggs. For nearly a month, the female incubates them before they are born.
Fun Fact: While they resurface from diving, gadwalls occasionally steal food from other dabbling ducks.
9. Northern Pintail
In winter checklists, Northern Pintails show up in 1% of the time. They’ve been sighted in Florida year-round, but mostly between November and February.
The long pointy tails of northern pintails are what identify them. Males have a stunning dark head with a white neck stripe that stands out. Their backs are covered in gray, white, and black designs. Their bodies are white. A green patch appears on their wings while they’re in the air.
Females have intricate scaled patterns on their bodies and are brown in color. Their wings are likewise covered in a brown patch.
- Anas acuta
- Length: 51 – 66 cm (20 – 26 in)
- Weight: 1030 g (36.33 oz)
- Wingspan: 74 – 89 cm ( 29 – 35 in)
Before moving to southern and coastal US states, Northern Pintails were bred in Canada, Alaska, and the Midwest.
In open wetlands, marshes, prairies, and even in agricultural fields, you may find Northern Pintails living with other duck species. They feed around lakes and ponds, but they have been known to swim with other ducks in open water. They’ll migrate to coastal lagoons, sheltered estuaries, and brackish marshes during the winter.
When dabbling for food, Northern Pintails have a clear advantage over ducks. They are able to dive 12 inches deep into the water, compared to other ducks with their long necks. They eat aquatic vegetation seeds and roots. Seeds and grain from agricultural fields are also eaten. They consume more protein-rich creatures, such as aquatic insects and mollusks like snails, during the breeding season.
Northern Pintail nests are mostly discovered around water sources, in shallow hollows on the ground. They house at least twelve eggs and are constructed with grasses and feathers.
The female will take the young to the water as soon as they are born, so they may feed on insects by themselves, and she will incubate them for up to twenty-five days. They can fly around fifty days after they’ve been hatched, but the female must molt before they’ll leave the nest.
Fun Fact: Northern Pintails are often hunted as a challenge in game shooting because they are agile and quick birds.
10. Cinnamon Teal
From September to April, Cinnamon Teals may be seen in Florida, although they are not particularly frequent.
The term “cinnamon teal” comes from the breeding males of this species. During the breeding season, they’re cinnamon-colored and their eyes are red. They’re even cinnamon-colored! A scaly reddish-brown patch is found on their backs. It is separated from the greenish lower wing by a white line that runs down its shoulder.
In the winter, males will lose their glossy coating and look a lot like females. Females have a scaly pattern on their chest, belly, and back that is brown in color.
- Spatula cyanoptera
- Length: 36 – 43 cm. (14- 17 in)
- Weight: 465 g (16.4 oz.)
- Wingspan: 61 -76 cm (24 – 30 in)
Before heading to Mexico and South America for the winter, Cinnamon Teals breed in western US states and southwestern Canada. In the southwestern United States, Mexico, and South America, some ducks stay all year.
In freshwater marshes and ponds, you may see Cinnamon Teals. Cinnamon Teals live on food that they can find by skimming the surface of the water, particularly in shallow water, because they belong to the Dabbling Duck family. Seeds, plants, and aquatic insects are among the foods they consume. For submerged plants in deeper waters, they may choose to experiment just below the surface.
Cinnamon Teal nests are placed on the ground, often near tall grasses and vegetation but near water, and are built by the females. Grass is used to make the nests, which are then covered in down. A nest can hold up to twelve eggs and take twenty-five days to hatch. The young are able to fly independently after around 50 days.
Fun Fact: Every year, the Cinnamon Teals switch breeding partners.
11. Eurasian Wigeon
Male
Female
In Florida, Eurasian Wigeons are a rare sight, however they have been spotted on rare occasions throughout the year.
Because of their bright, creamy patch on their head that contrasts with their cinnamon-red head and blue-gray beak, Eurasian Wigeons stand out among dabbling ducks. Their backs, as well as their sides, are gray. Their wings feature white shoulder markings with a green layer at the bottom, and their breasts are pinkish. Brown with scaly designs and white bellies, females are mostly brown.
- Mareca penelope
- Length: 46 – 51 cm (18 – 20 in)
- Weight: 1000 g (35.27 oz)
- Wingspan: 76 – 81 cm (30 – 32)
During the winter in the United States, Eurasian Wigeon can be found in a few places.
Wet meadows, tidal flats, marshes, ponds, and lakes are all home to Eurasian Wigeons. When foraging for food, Eurasian Wigeons frequently join other dabbling ducks. They consume watery vegetation that is either just under or just beneath the surface.
Eurasian Wigeons, like other ducks, are known to steal food as they come out of their feeding when they are on land.
Eurasian Wigeon nests are frequently found in low pits on the ground, surrounded by tall grasses and plants. Females are often near the water and build nests of grass and feathers. Females lay seven to nine eggs per clutch. They incubate them for roughly twenty-five days before they can fly, and it takes approximately two months.
Fun Fact: After Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, was thrown into the sea and rescued by a duck, the Eurasian Wigeon’s scientific name contains the “Penelope.”
Diving Ducks (8 Species)
In freshwater, tidal lagoons, and estuaries, diving ducks are known as such because they dive to the bottom in order to eat. They’re not like the sea diving ducks, who belong to the Merginae subfamily, and they belong to the Aythyini subfamily.
Since they cannot walk on land like dabbling ducks, diving ducks’ legs are positioned farther back to aid them swim and dive. Fish, water plants, and shellfish are among the foods they consume.
12. Mottled Duck
All year long in Florida, you may see Mottled Ducks. Summer and winter checklists have 9% of them.
The Anatidae family includes mottled ducks, which are small non-migratory birds. The heads of both sexes are light brown, with a horizontal black line across the eyes.
From the chest to the bottom, their bodies are dark brown with a scalloped pattern. On their wings, they have a striking blue-purple patch. Males have a bright yellow beak, whereas females have a dull olive color beak.
- Anas fulvigula
- Length: 51 -56 cm (20 – 22 in)
- Weight: 1043 g (36.8 oz)
- Wingspan: 76 cm (30 in)
The Gulf coast is home to year-round mottled ducks, but depending on food supply, they may migrate inland.
Shallow coastal marshes, flooded agricultural lands, irrigation ditches, and wet prairies are all good places to look for Mottled Ducks.
Mottled Ducks feed on shallow water. Snails, fish, crabs, and shrimp are the primary foods for these animals. Grains, seeds, grass, and berries are also among their foods.
Mottled Duck nests are commonly discovered amid rich vegetation and near water, such as under the ground. To prepare for up to twelve eggs, the female creates nests out of grasses and lines them with feathers. The eggs hatch after around twenty-seven days.
The females only have to lead mottled ducklings to their food source when they are born capable of taking care of themselves. It might take up to seventy days for them to be allowed to fly.
Fun Fact: Pure-breed Mottled Ducks may be lost due to interbreeding with wild Mallards.
13. Lesser Scaup
Lesser Scaups are more typically seen in Florida throughout the winter, from November till mid-May, despite recent sightings throughout the year. At this time, they are found in 5% of checklists.
Littleer Scaups, also known as Greater Scaups, are a mid-sized diving bird that is frequently mistaken with them. Lesser Scaups have just a few hairs at the tip of their heads, which distinguishes them from other species. In comparison to Greater Scaups, it gives their head a steeper appearance.
They have a purple sheen on their heads, chests, and bottoms. Golden yellow eyes adorn their faces. They have white sides and a complex pattern on their backs, which is grayish.
Females have black heads, a white patch on their cheeks near their beaks, gray flanks, and brown skin with no extra tuft of hair like males.
- Aythya affinis
- Length: 38 – 49 cm (15 – 18 in)
- Weight: 1155 g (40.77 oz)
- Wingspan: 61 84 cm (24 – 33 in)
Before migrating to southern US states, Mexico, and the east and west US coasts, Lesser Scaup breed established itself in northern US states, western Canada, and Alaska. Throughout their migration throughout the United States and Canada, they may be observed.
In large lakes, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs, you may find Lesser Scaup. During the winter, they congregate in large numbers and resemble floating plants when viewed from afar.
When diving into the water and sifting through the bottom, Lesser Scaup feed mostly on mollusks and clams they discover. Bulrushes, wild celery, wild rice, and pondweeds are among the plants that they cultivate in water.
In recent years, they have started to eat zebra mussels in Lake Erie, which may jeopardize their health since these filter-feeding creatures host environmental pollutants.
Lesser Scaup nests are often discovered near water on the ground. Since females may share their nests, multiple eggs may be found in the same nest. Plants and feathers are used to scrape and line the nests.
The nest may contain up to twenty-six eggs, including those from other females. One female can lay up to eleven eggs. The young swim straightaway after hatching, and Incubation lasts only three weeks.
The females look after the young, but they can feed themselves as well. They may fly and move with the rest of the flock in about fifty days.
Fun Fact: When in the clutches of a hunter like the Red Fox, an adult Lesser Scaup may pretend to be dead.
14. Ring-necked Duck
From November to mid-April, Ring-necked Ducks may be seen in Florida, accounting for 5% of winter checklists. Yet, others have been seen here throughout the year.
Ring-necked Ducks have a black forehead, a gray beak with white border, and a black back while breast while belly. They are medium-sized ducks with a steep black forehead and gray beak. Their neck is adorned with a cinnamon collar.
Except for their gray faces and white outline around their eyes, females do not display the ring. They are mostly brown throughout. They also have a white band around the black tip of their bill, which is not seen on the males’ bills.
- Aythya collaris
- Length: 36 – 46 cm (14 – 18 in)
- Weight : 909 g (32.09 oz)
- Wingspan: 61 -76 cm (24-30)
Before moving to southern and western US states, Mexico, northern Central America, and the Caribbean, Ring-necked Ducks breed in Canada and northeastern US states.
Little, shallow ponds and rivers are home to Ring-necked Ducks. Wooded lakes in forests are possible breeding habitats.
In tiny, shallow ponds and rivers, you may see Ring-necked Ducks foraging on the surface and diving only occasionally below the water. They act more like dabbling ducks than diving ducks, despite their name.
They consume pondweed, as well as surface and underwater plants. Wild rice and earthworms, leeches, and snails are among the animals they eat.
Ring-necked Duck nests are bowl-shaped and placed on deep water with plenty of vegetation for concealment. They can hold ten eggs and are constructed from plant materials. These eggs are incubated for around a month by the females, who remain with the offspring until they are ready to fly.
Fun Fact: The ring surrounding the Ring-necked Duck is not used to immediately separate them from other birds, despite what you may believe. It’s hardly noticeable unless you pay close attention. With the white band, you can spot their high, black forehead and blue-gray beak.
15. Bufflehead
Male
Female
In 3% of winter checklists, buggleheads are found. From November to April, they can be found in Florida, although some may stay longer.
Buffleheads are little birds with bulbous heads that derive their name from the ancient Greek word “bublehead.” The enormous white patch behind the eyes of male Buffleheads makes them easily identifiable. The crown, forehead, neck, and throat are all highlighted in this patch with glossy green and purple colors. Their bodies are white on the bottom and black on the top half.
Except for the bulbous head, female Buffleheads look nothing like males. With a white patch below the eye, they have dark brown or black heads. Gray is at the bottom, while black is at the top. With their brown heads and a white patch on the head, juveniles look a lot like females.
- Bucephala albeola
- Length: 13 – 16 in (33 – 41 cm)
- Weight: 21.16 oz (600 g)
- Wingspan: 20 – 24 in (51-61 cm)
Before moving to the United States, northern Mexico, and Canada’s Pacific coast, bufleheads breed mostly in Canada. Throughout the Midwest and the Appellations, they may be seen during migration.
During the breeding season, Buffleheads may be found in tiny lakes and ponds with adjacent poplar and aspen woodland. They migrate to protected coastal waters or shallow bays and inlets in the winter.
When they’re foraging for food, buflheads frequently dive. While underwater, they capture mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic insects and eat them.
Bufflehead Calls: Buffleheads are birds that make little to no loud noises. Males generally chirp or squeal throughout the breeding season and make noises only. Females seek out their offspring for assistance.
Tree cavities, especially those previously utilized by Northern Flicker woodpeckers, are often home to Bufflehead nests. These are little tree holes near to water, about a foot in diameter. Just enough down feathers are placed on the nest to cover the eggs by the female. She incubates thirty days and lays six to eleven eggs.
16. Redhead
Throughout the year, redheads may be seen in Florida, but they are most visible from November to April. Winter checklists include them at a rate of 2%.
These medium-sized diving birds are, in fact, redheads. Their crimson head contrasts with a black neck and chest, as well as a gray body. Their bill is black with a blue-gray tip. The bill of both sexes is the same, but females are brown all over.
- Aythya americana
- Length: 46 – 56 cm (18 -22 in)
- Weight: 1219 g (43.03 oz)
- Wingspan: 74 – 89 cm (29 – 35 in)
Before migrating for the winter to southern US states, the east coast of the US, Mexico, and the Caribbean, redheads breed in western Canada, Alaska, and western US states.
Marshes, open lakes, reedy ponds, and bays with deep enough water to dive and root out plant life are all good places to look for redheads. They migrate to calm water or reservoir and estuaries in the winter, especially to coastal shorelines.
Redheads are not as divers as other ducks when it comes to food. Their movements might be dabbling-like. During non-breeding season, they consume a lot of plant material. Seeds, pondweeds tubers, water lilies, and grasses are among their foods. They consume a lot of mollusks, insects, and small fish during the breeding season.
Fun Fact: During winter, in two Gulf of Mexico bays, redheads may form huge flocks of thousands.
17. Ruddy Duck
Male
Female
During the winter months of November through March, Ruddy Ducks are most often seen in Florida, although they may stay all year. Around this time, they appeared on 1% of checklists.
Ruddy Ducks, male and female, are quite a sight to see. Male Ruddy Ducks are bright scarlet-brown during the breeding season, compared to their dull grayish color when not breeding. They have huge white cheek patches and vivid blue beaks, as well as black headgear that stretch down the back of their necks.
Females have grayish cheek patches and dark brown caps. Over their cheeks, they have a barely visible brownish horizontal line. Like the non-breeding males, their bodies are also grayish-brown.
In terms of their heads, non-breeding males, like breeding males, have a distinctive pattern and coloration.
- Oxyura jamaicensis
- Length: 14 – 16 in
- Weight: 28.04 oz (795 g)
- Wingspan: 21 – 24 in (53 – 61 cm)
Before traveling to southern US states and the east and west coasts of the US, as well as Mexico, Ruddy Ducks breed in western US states and western Canada. In western Mexico, certain birds stay throughout the year.
During the breeding season, Ruddy Ducks can be found in freshwater marshes, lakes, and ponds with marshy edges and open water. Ruddy Ducks like to frequent shallow saltwater coastal inlets and estuaries throughout the winter. Ruddy Ducks are likely to stay in ice-free lakes and ponds if they can find them.
Diving and swimming underwater for food are two of the favorite pastimes of Ruddy Ducks. They may consume aquatic insects, shellfish, and crustaceans as well as feeding on aquatic vegetation like the seeds and roots of aquatic plants. They may eat tiny fish and mollusks by skimming the water’s surface and straining mud and water through their bills.
Females construct Ruddy Duck nests to float on the water while remaining snug among thick marsh foliage. Grasses and cattails are used to create nests, which are then lined with down. The floating nests are then anchored to vegetation on the water by the female.
Females lay five to fifteen eggs, with some of them deposited in other females’ nests. These incubate for around twenty-five days. The young head goes into the water after hatching and can immediately swim and dive. They are cared for by females, but they feed themselves. They’ll be able to fly after around fifty days have passed.
Fun Fact: Since 2016, the Ruddy Duck has been classified as an invasive alien species by Union Concern in Europe. This implies that throughout the whole of the European Union, importing, breeding, transporting, commercializing, or purposefully releasing this species is prohibited.
18. Greater Scaup
From November to February, Greater Scaups may be seen in Florida, although they stay throughout the year.
Greater Scaup ducks have blue bills, gray barred backs, and white sides. Males have iridescent dark green heads. They seem to be black and white when viewed from afar. Mottled brown and gray bodies with deeper heads, males molt after the breeding season.
Between each eye and the beak, females are brown with a white patch. Yellow eyes are seen in both males and females. Greater Scaup have rounder heads than Lesser Scaup, although they appear to be the same.
- Scientific Name: Aythya marila
- Length: 15.3-22.1 in (39-56 cm)
- Weight: 25.6-48.0 oz (726-1360 g)
- Wingspan: 28.4-31.1 in (72-79 cm)
Before moving to the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts for winter, the Greater Scaup breed was found in the north of Canada and Alaska.
During the breeding season, you may find Greater Scaup in shallow lakes and ponds. They migrate to the shore during the winter and may be located in bays and beaches, as well as on the Great Lakes. Out at sea, they create massive ‘rafts of birds.
Ducks such as Greater Scaup dine on invertebrates and plants at the bottom of lakes and the ocean. When swimming forward, they’ll thrust their wide bills into the soft muck and snap them shut on anything edible.
Greater Scaup nests are placed on the ground, near water, and add grass and down feathers to the little depression. Floating mats of vegetation are sometimes used to deposit their eggs. They mate and lay up to thirteen eggs, which take around twenty-five days to hatch. The nest is almost abandoned by the young right away.
Fun Fact: To hunt for food on the bottom, Greater Scaup can dive up to 23 feet underwater.
19. Canvasback
From October to mid-May, Canvasbacks may be found in Florida during the winter.
Male Canvasbacks are easily recognizable ducks from the Anatidae family because of their red eyes and sloping reddish-brown heads and throats. Their chest is black, but their bellies and backs are white or grayish. Their bottom is black too. Females are mostly brown in the head, throat, and chest, but their backs and bellies are brown and gray.
- Aythya valisineria
- Length: 48 – 61 cm (19 – 24 in)
- Weight: 1657 g (58.48 oz)
- Wingspan: 71 – 91 cm (28 – 36 in)
Before migrating to the southern US states, Mexico, and the east and west coasts of America, canvasbacks breed in western Canada and some areas in northcentral states.
Prairie marshes, deep-water marshes, lakes, bays, and ponds are all good places to look for Canvasbacks. Their white bodies and sloping heads stand out against the backdrop of large flocks of other birds. Freshwater lakes and coastal waters are their preferred habitats during the winter.
Because Canvasbacks are diving ducks, they spend most of their time in open water foraging for food. Because they root tubers and other plant food at the bottom of marshes, lakes, and ponds, their webbed feet are ideal for diving. Seeds, buds, roots, snails, and insect larvae are also possibilities for them to dabble with. Sago Pondweed tubers are their favorite food.
Fun Fact: Vallisneria americana, or wild celery, is the Canvasbacks’ favorite food during their non-breeding season, and the word “valisineria” in their scientific name comes from this plant.
Sea Ducks (Diving Ducks) (8 Species)
Unlike other diving ducks, sea ducks belong to the Mergini subfamily. Throughout the winter, they spend the majority of their time at sea, breeding in the far north.
20. Hooded Merganser
During the winter months of November through March, Hooded Mergansers may be seen in Florida. Winter checklists include them in 6% of the time.
The only Merganser species that lives exclusively in North America is the Hooded Merganser, which is the second smallest.
The crests on the heads of Male Hooded Mergansers, which they can raise or lower, altering the form and pattern of their crest, are what makes them such a striking duck. The crests are enormous white patches when open, but they become a thick white line when closed.
Their heads are black, and their eyes are golden yellow. They have black crests. Except for their cinnamon-colored flanks and white chests, their bodies are black. The lower backs of these birds feature white stripes, and they feature two black bars on their chests.
The crest of females is reddish-brown, but it is the same as males’. They have a brownish-gray complexion that is lighter on the bottom and darker on top. In comparison to the males, their eyes are duller. Brownish crests, a black top half, and a brownish-gray bottom half distinguish juveniles from adults.
- Lophodytes cucullatus
- Length: 16 – 19 in (41 – 48 cm)
- Weight: 32.09 oz (909 g)
- Wingspan: 24 – 26 in (61 – 66 cm)
Eastern US states have Hooded Mergansers all year, but eastern Canada has them only during the winter. They spend their entire year in the southwest of Canada. Throughout the migration season, they may be seen in the Midwest, as well as southern states and the West Coast during winter.
Hooded Mergansers may be found in lakes, ponds, and sluggish rivers. Little, wooded ponds and estuaries with a lot of aquatic vegetation are where they prefer to breed. They travel through open water, coastal bays, and tidal streams during migration, seeing a variety of habitats. Brackish wetlands, saltwater coves, and inlets are where they can be found during winter.
Mergansers dive underwater in search of food. With their serrated and hooked beak, they capture their prey. Aquatic insects, fish, and crustaceans, particularly crayfish, will be eaten. They eat snails, frogs, aquatic vegetation, and seeds in wooded areas.
Hooded Merganser nests are frequently discovered in tree crevices that are around ten to twenty feet off the ground. They’re usually lined with down feathers and situated beside or near a water source. Once the final egg is deposited, females deposit seven to fifteen eggs and incubate them all at the same time. It takes around thirty days for the disease to incubate.
The young leap from the nest and head to the closest water source within twenty-four hours of hatching. They are able to find their own food and swim on their own. For just a few more weeks, the female will continue to care for them and lead them to food-rich places.
Fun Fact: When Hooded Mergansers forage for food, their ability to see underwater helps them.
21. Red-breasted Merganser
From November through March, red-breasted Mergansers are seen in 4% of checklists in Florida.
The unmistakable ducks of breeding male Red-breasted Mergansers. They stand out among other ducks with their black, glossy green crests, ragged, spiky appearance, dark red eyes, and long serrated orange bills. White neck collars, a mottled reddish-brown breast, black and white back, and gray flanks are also found on these birds.
Reddish-brown spiky crests, red eyes, long, red bills, white throats, and gray bodies characterize females and non-breeding males.
- Mergus serrator
- Length: 16 – 26 in (41 – 66 cm)
- Weight: 47.61 oz (1349 g)
- Wingspan: 31 – 35 in (79 – 89 cm)
Except in the southwest, where they breed, red-breasted Mergansers migrate to the US and Canadian coasts. During migration, they may be seen in all US states and in southern Canada.
Tundra ponds, freshwater lakes and rivers, brackish and saltwater wetlands, and near the coast during the breeding season are all good places to look for Red-breasted Mergansers. They can be found in the ocean during the winter as well.
When foraging for food, red-breasted mergansers dive and pursue their prey under water until they capture them. To make catching fish in shallow water easier, they will occasionally collaborate with other organizations and herd schools of fish. Crustaceans, insects, and amphibians are among the animals they eat.
Red-breasted Mergansers’ nests are frequently seen near water, in a shallow depression on the ground. Females usually cover them with plants and down feathers. Females may lay their eggs in the nests of other females, ranging from five to sixteen. The female is responsible for the incubation period, which lasts from twenty-nine to thirty-five days.
Fun Fact: The breeding feathers of Red-breasted Mergansers aren’t acquired until they’re two years old.
22. Black Scoter
Black Scoters are near-threatened species in Florida, and although they can be found here all year, they are mainly spotted from November to January.
American Scoter is another name for the Black Scoter. Except for a dazzling yellow patch at the base of their bills, male Black Scoters are appropriately named because their entire bodies are velvety black.
Black Scoters are actually a different color. The lower part of their head is lighter than the rest of their body, and they are brownish overall. Their bill is black, and their cap is dark brown.
Both boys and girls make up juveniles. They have the same hue as the females, but they also have a yellow knob at the base of their beak, similar to males.
- Melanitta americana
- Length: 127 – 21 in (43 – 53 cm)
- Weight: 387.4 oz (1088 g)
- Wingspan: 30 – 35 in (76 – 89 cm)
Before moving to coastal regions of the United States, Black Scoters breed in Canada and Alaska.
During winter, or after migrating, you may most often find Black Scoters in saltwater, especially along rocky coastlines. They typically flock with other scoter species in huge winter flocks. They migrate to more sheltered places, such as ponds and tiny lakes with vegetation on the fringes, during their nesting season.
In oceans and bay coasts, Black Scoters dive for shellfish and mollusks. On top of shellfish and mollusks, they occasionally eat crabs and shrimp, as well as other marine vegetation. They eat a lot of insects, larvae, fish eggs, and other vegetation when they’re in freshwater.
Black Scoter calls: In the winter, when males’ descending whistle is easily heard, they are noisy birds that are easily recognized.
Black Scoters’ nests are commonly found in a rock niche or amid the grass, protected by grass clumps. They’re often situated within 100 feet of the sea. The female lines a depression in the earth or grass with her own feathers.
She’ll incubate eight to nine eggs for around twenty-eight days, resulting in an average of eight to nine eggs per clutch. They will be looked after by her for about three weeks, at which point they must fend for themselves.
Fun Fact: The tens of thousands of Black Scoters who migrate south create a spectacular spectacle.
23. Common Goldeneye
Male
Female
From November through April, Common Goldeneyes are spotted in Florida, mostly in the north of the state.
Green heads with iridescent irises are common on Common Goldeneye males. Their yellow eyes have a white patch beneath them. The bodies are white, with black backs.
Grayish-brown birds with brown heads are the female common goldeneyes. Both sexes have black beaks, but females have a yellow tip.
- Scientific Name: Bucephala clangula
- Length: 15.8-20.1 in (40-51 cm)
- Weight: 21.2-45.9 oz (600-1300 g)
- Wingspan: 30.3-32.7 in (77-83 cm)
In the summer, they breed in Canada and Alaska, then migrate to the lower 48 states for winter.
During the breeding season, Common Goldeneye may be found in boreal forest lakes, and during the winter in coastal areas. Crabs, shrimp, crayfish, fish, fish eggs, and insects are all eaten by Common Goldeneyes diving ducks.
Common Goldeneye nesters use whatever is available, as well as some plucked down feathers, for nesting material. They make nests in holes in trees. They produce nine eggs, which take around thirty days to emerge.
Fun Fact: Over 40 miles per hour is common for Common Goldeneyes.
24. Surf Scoter
Male
Female
In Florida, Surf Scoters are uncommon, yet they have been observed throughout the winter, notably in November.
Because of the distinct white patches on their forehead and nape that stand out against their black, velvety feathers, male Surf Scoters are medium-sized birds known as “old skunk-head coot.”
Male surf scoters have a huge orange beak with black, red, and yellow designs, in addition to these distinguishing features. A huge, black patch sits at the bottom of the card. White eyes are characteristic of their race.
The white patch at the base of their beak and around the rear of their eyes distinguishes Female Surf Scoters from other dark gray birds. The female has a smaller and darker gray beak than the male.
The bill of juvenile birds is brownish, with black eyes, and they have the same coloring and form as male birds.
- Melanitta perspicillata
- Length: 17 – 21 in (43 – 53 cm)
- Weight: 35.27 oz (1000 g)
- Wingspan: 30 – 36 in (76 – 91 cm)
Before heading to the US coasts and Canadian coasts, Surf Scoters breed in northern Canada and Alaska.
During the breeding season, you may see Surf Scoters in woodlands near freshwater lakes. They prefer shallow bays, inlets, and estuaries with a plentiful supply of food and minimal risk of predation throughout their molting season. During the winter, however, they are most likely found in the ocean.
Diving underwater is the most common way for surf scoters to eat. Depending on the amount of food, they also modify their foraging efforts. For example, since there is less effort but more food supply, they will feed on Pacific Herring eggs during spawning. Freshwater invertebrates and crustaceans will be available throughout the breeding season.
Surfing Scoters nests are frequently built on the ground, beneath thick brush or low tree limbs, and not near water. The female lays five to eight eggs that she incubates for approximately a month in a bowl-shaped depression on the ground that she lines with grass and down feathers. Broods may get mixed in dense breeding environments.
Fun Fact: Surfing Scoters’ catch from diving is frequently attempted to be stolen by gulls. To make it difficult for other birds to steal from them, flocks frequently perform synchronized diving and surfacing.
25. White-winged Scoter
In Florida, white-winged Scoters are relatively uncommon, although they have been spotted near the shore during the winter.
The North American Scoter with the longest wings is the White-winged Scoter. Since the other two Scoters have totally black wings, these can easily be distinguished from them.
The white, reverse comma marking around the eye distinguishes male White-winged Scoters, giving them the moniker “Viking Horn.” Their orange-tipped beak is small and less bulbous than other Scoters; nevertheless, it has a big, black knob. The majority of their bodies are black in color.
White-winged Scoters are visually similar in both sexes. Both have white specks in front and behind their eyes, as well as being dark brown. Billed are dark gray with a less prominent knob at the base.
- Melanitta deglandi
- Length: 19 – 24 in (48 – 61 cm)
- Weight: 62.4 oz (1768 g)
- Wingspan: 33 – 41 in (84 – 104 cm)
Before going to the US and Canadian coasts for winter, white-winged Scoters breed in western Canada and Alaska.
During their breeding season, White-winged Scoters may be found in northern woodlands near freshwater lakes and marshes. They prefer to be in the open ocean and nearshore habitats, such as bays and inlets, during the winter.
White-winged Scoters are masters of diving deep and holding their breath while battling shellfish from below the surface of the water.
They prefer to feed from the bottom, but they may also feed from the surface of the water in huge flocks. Mollusks, crustaceans, tiny fish, and aquatic insects are among the foods they consume in freshwater habitats.
White-winged Scoter nests are shallow depressions in the earth, generally covered by a thick shrub or a niche and near to the water. Plant material is used to construct them, and down is used to line them.
Over twenty-five days to a month, the female lays eight to ten eggs and nurtures them. After hatching, the young can immediately eat on their own and leave the nest. For another three weeks, the female looks after them.
Fun Fact: The nesting area where they were hatched is visited by female White-winged Scoters. “Natal Philopatry” is the term for this type of behavior.
26. Common Eider
In Florida, common eiders are a near-threatened species, but they may be seen throughout the year, mostly on the east coast.
Large sea ducks with sloping foreheads are common eiders. White cheeks, backs, caps, sides, and bellies characterize breeding males; their napes (back of the neck) are pistachio-colored.
Females’ breasts, backs, and wings are all reddish-brown, with black stripes. Sexually mature juveniles and non-breeding males range in color from chocolate brown to white on their breasts and backs.
- Somateria mollisima
- Length: 23 – 27 in (58 – 69 cm)
- Weight: 78.4 oz (2222 g)
- Wingspan: 35 – 42 in (89 – 107 cm)
Four of the six subspecies of Common Eiders breed in North America, each with slight differences from the others.
In Canada and Alaska, as well as sections of northern Europe and Asia, Common Eiders breed. Others migrate south throughout the winter, while others remain in those areas.
Common Eiders may be found around rocky coasts in both marine and saltwater environments. Along the breeding season, they may be found in enormous numbers on coastal isles, islets, and beaches with vegetation, shrubs, and stunted trees.
They prefer to hunt for mollusks in winter, when they settle on coasts with hard seafloors.
Mollusks, crustaceans, marine worms, and fish eggs are the main foods of common eiders. At low tides, they forage and pry the mussels off rocks with their stout, chisel-like beaks.
Despite their shells, they are able to swallow the mussels whole. They only consume the bodies of crabs, discarding all of their legs and claws before consumption.
Female Common Eiders dig a hole in the earth with their feet and belly to create nests for themselves. They prefer a location that is protected and has been utilized in the past.
After laying the third egg, they line the nest with their own down and lay three to eight eggs. They cover the eggs with down when they have to leave the nest. Males stay close for protection while the females incubate the eggs for roughly twenty-four to twenty-six days.
Fun Fact: St. denotes the Common Eider in English. Since they were one of the first birds to gain protection laws, Saint Cuthbert established in the year 676, Cuthbert’s Duck or Cuddy’s Duck.
27. Long-tailed Duck
Male Non-breeding
Female non-breeding
Long-tailed Ducks are vulnerable species in Florida that have been spotted here during winter.
The name of the Long-tailed Duck refers to its long, slender, black tail feathers, which are quite obvious. The Long-Tailed Duck’s coloring changes between breeding (summer) and non-breeding (winter) seasons, which is what makes it interesting.
White crowns, foreheads, necks, backs, sides, and bellies are seen on adult non-breeding males. They have black breasts and wings with white shoulder blades, a gray mask, and a dark cheek patch. They have a pink band across their black bill. They have a long, black tail.
Dark crowns, white heads with a black patch on the cheek, and gray beaks characterize adult non-breeding females. Their necks and bellies are white. Their backs, wings, and tail are all dark brown. Their coloring changes throughout the breeding season, just like that of the males. They get more brown, with a white patch around the eye and neck.
In terms of coloring and a shorter tail, juveniles look like adult non-breeding females. They, too, have a yellow-orange band on the gray bill, similar to that of adult males. They also have a black patch on the cheek.
- Clangula hyemalis
- Length: 15 – 22 in (38 – 56 cm)
- Weight: 31.74 oz (900 g)
- Wingspan: 26 – 31 in (66 – 79 cm)
Long-tailed Ducks may be found across northern Europe and northern Asia, as well as in the far north of Canada and Alaska. They go south in the winter, while those in Europe and Asia go south in the winter.
In a number of coastal water environments, you may see Long-Tailed Ducks. Bays, harbors, fjords, estuaries, straits, and mudflats are common habitats for them. They can be found near the coast and in huge freshwater lakes during the breeding season. In regions with a lot of sea ice, they’re known to join big flocks.
In the winter months, long-tailed Ducks in the oceans dive for mollusks, crustaceans, and little fish. To get zooplankton, which is often found at the bottom of water columns, they are known to dive as deep as 200 feet. They swim through the water using their wings to help them fly. Insects, fish eggs, and plants are the primary foods on tundra throughout the summer.
Long-tailed Duck females create shallow depressions on the ground that serve as nests. These nests are gathered in tiny, packed clusters with those of other females. The females add their own down to the nest by covering the first egg with a layer of grasses and adding a second egg.
Females may lay anywhere from six to nine eggs. They are the only ones who incubate the eggs for up to twenty-nine days. Males go to their post-breeding molting spot. When the young hatch, they are able to feed.
Fun Fact: Oldsquaw was the old name for the Long-tailed Duck.
Other Ducks (1 Species)
Ducks are divided into subfamilies based on their whistling or Shelducks, which are sometimes referred to as ducks but belong to a different group than dabbling or diving ducks.
Because of their propensity of perching in trees, whistling ducks were once referred to as tree ducks. Land-feeding ducks such as Shelducks are common waterfowl.
28. Fulvous Whistling-Duck
In Florida, all year, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks may be seen, although mostly in the south.
The reddish-yellow coloring of Fulvous Whistling-Ducks gives them their name. They have enormous beaks and legs, as well as long necks. Except for their blue-gray beak and legs, their whole body is reddish.
Their white tail contrasts with their dark brown wings. Their white bottom contrasts starkly with the wing’s dark brown underside when they’re in flight, looking like a “U.”
- Dendrocygna bicolor
- Length: 45 – 53 cm (18 -21 in)
- Weight: 726 g (25.6 oz)
- Wingspan: 91 cm (36 in)
The coasts of Mexico, the Caribbean, and Florida are all home to Fulvous Whistling-Ducks year-round. During the breeding season, they may be found in a few southern US states.
Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are common in marshy and pond areas with shallow water. They can be found near mangrove swamps and coastal lagoons throughout the winter.
Group feeders include the Fulvous Whistling-Ducks. They often swim in shallow water for aquatic plants, rice, and seeds throughout the day, dipping their head and neck. In order to find food, they may even dive into deep water. They migrate at night with large groups of whistling ducks.
Plant stems and leaves are used to construct Fulvous Whistling-Duck nests. They may be found on the ground, in water, or in tree crevices. Females average twelve to fourteen eggs per nest, although they may lay their eggs in someone else’s nest if they are lucky!
For about a month, both parents incubate the eggs. After hatching, they have the option of leaving the nest after a day, but it takes around nine weeks for them to gain their flying skills.
Fun Fact: Even though the nest is not completely constructed, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks are anxious and lay their eggs there. This may occasionally cause the loss of eggs.
How To Identify Ducks
Since ducks are often seen at a distance or in the air, there are a few identifying characteristics to help you identify them more quickly.
Beak shape
Shovelers, canvasbacks, and mergansers are among the ducks with distinct beaks. To narrow down or discount the species, get to know these ducks first.
White Patches
The lighting circumstances may not be ideal, and ducks are usually only seen from a distance with other species. So, how do you differentiate between one of these many species?
When ducks are at a distance, knowing ‘where is the white’ is the simplest way to identify them.
Calls
Get to know some calls by listening to the calls in each of the summaries below, since several ducks have unique cries and aren’t just your normal “quack.”
Heads and Tails
Wood ducks and mergansers, for example, have crests or unusual head formations, so learn more about them.
Pintails, long-tailed ducks, and ruddy ducks are among the ducks that have lengthy or curled tails rather than short ones.
Ducks By Season
Checklists for the state can help you identify which birds are most frequently seen. During ebird in the summer and winter, these tables indicate which ducks are most frequently seen on checklists in Florida.
Ducks in Florida in Summer:
Mottled Duck 9.1%
Wood Duck 5.0%
Muscovy Duck 4.2%
Mallard 2.1%
Blue-winged Teal 0.9%
Fulvous Whistling-Duck 0.7%
Red-breasted Merganser 0.5%
Lesser Scaup 0.2%
Ring-necked Duck 0.2%
Redhead 0.1%
Northern Shoveler 0.1%
Ruddy Duck 0.1%
Black Scoter 0.1%
Greater Scaup <0.1%
Surf Scoter <0.1%
American Wigeon <0.1%
Common Eider <0.1%
Green-winged Teal <0.1%
White-winged Scoter <0.1%
Bufflehead <0.1%
Hooded Merganser <0.1%
Eurasian Wigeon <0.1%
Northern Pintail <0.1%
Gadwall <0.1%
Long-tailed Duck <0.1%
Canvasback <0.1%
Cinnamon Teal <0.1%
Ducks in Florida in Winter:
Blue-winged Teal 10.3%
Mottled Duck 9.5%
Hooded Merganser 6.3%
Lesser Scaup 5.6%
Ring-necked Duck 5.3%
Muscovy Duck 5.0%
Red-breasted Merganser 4.3%
Northern Shoveler 3.9%
Mallard 3.2%
Bufflehead 3.0%
Wood Duck 2.8%
Green-winged Teal 2.4%
Redhead 2.0%
American Wigeon 2.0%
Ruddy Duck 1.8%
Northern Pintail 1.3%
Gadwall 1.2%
Canvasback 0.7%
Greater Scaup 0.7%
Fulvous Whistling-Duck 0.6%
Black Scoter 0.6%
Common Goldeneye 0.4%
Cinnamon Teal 0.2%
Surf Scoter 0.1%
Long-tailed Duck 0.1%
White-winged Scoter 0.1%
Common Eider 0.1%
Eurasian Wigeon 0.1%