Ducks belong to the sub family Anatinae. Not only is this grouping the largest group of waterfowl it is also the most diverse. The characteristics generally held in common by ducks when compared to geese and swans are the small body size, shorter necks, narrower wings which are more pointed, and wing beats which are more rapid.

Frequently the males and females are colored differently with the male having the brighter plumage of the two. There are two body molts per molting cycle. The most significant is the eclipse which is the cycle that takes place during the end of the breeding season that results in males and females looking almost identical. Another characteristic is the speculum which is produced by the bright metallic feathering of the secondary feathers. There are also voice differences between the male and the female. The female incubates and rears the young. More information can be found from the sources in the reference list at the bottom of this web page.

The species/sub species of ducks featured on this site were residents of Waterfowl of Chenoa when photographed unless otherwise noted. By clicking on the common name of a duck in the table below you will be taken immediately to the photograph of that duck and to information related to it. To make a leisurely pass through the web page, scroll below the species list to the African Black Duck to start the excursion.

South African Black Duck
Scientific Name: Anas sparsa sparsa

SOUTH AFRICAN BLACK DUCK

Look For	Male and female plumage similar, charcoal gray color with white splotches, female usually smaller than male, very shy often sitting quietly in heavy vegetation
Nesting Area	Areas above sea level, near streams, wooded areas
Wintering Area	Warmer districts of South Africa
Nest Site	A scooped out spot on the ground near thick vegetation
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of second year
When	July to February in South Africa, January to march at Chenoa
Clutch Size	5 to 12 creamy eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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American Black
Scientific Name: Anas rubripes

AMERICAN BLACK

Look For	Mallard-size, mottled, dark black-brown; male and female similar; male has greener bill than female and is slightly larger
Nesting Area	West coast of Hudson Bay, Labrador south to Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and North Carolina
Wintering Area	Wisconsin south to northern Florida and central Texas
Nest Site	Ground boxes, weeded areas; not guarded by male
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size	10 to 12 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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Mallard
Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos

MALLARD

Look For	Male has metallic green head and neck separated from the purplish-brown breast by a white ring; females are mottled, buffy-brown in color with a pale eye-brow and a dark stripe through the eye
Nesting Area	Throughout the Northern Hemisphere in places where climatic conditions are not too severe
Wintering Area	Almost to the Tropic of Cancer and in Africa as far south as South Africa
Nest Site	Ground boxes, weeded areas where the nest is concealed beneath the undergrowth, usually near water; not guarded by male
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size	10 to 12 buffish-green eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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Mottled Duck
Scientific Name: Anas fulvigula

MOTTLED DUCK

Look For	Male and female alike, similar to American Black duck but closer to the female Mallard, yellowish green bill and unstreaked throat
Nesting Area	Florida and the Gulf coast
Wintering Area	Florida and the Gulf coast
Nest Site	Hidden in vegetation
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	January to March, maybe as late as August, but peaks in may and June
Clutch Size	6 to 8 creamy eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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Northern Shoveler
Scientific Name: Anas clypeata

NORTHERN SHOVELER

Look For	Male with green head and neck with significant white on the body, female mottled in shades of brown, comb-like structures on edge of bill
Nesting Area	Western and southern Canada, Northern Europe and Asia
Wintering Area	West and south United States, Europe to southern Asia
Nest Site	Close to water in an open area made with grass
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April to June
Clutch Size	10 to 12 buff eggs eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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Mandarin
Scientific Name: Aix galericulata

MANDARIN

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Look For	Males have triangular orange feathers over back; females are mottled light brown with eye over a white line
Nesting Area	Manchuria, Northeastern China, and Japan
Wintering Area	Sedentary in Japan, South of Yangtze in China
Nest Site	Nests on the ground in the vegetation or in old tree nests of other species
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April and May in nesting area and Chenoa
Clutch Size	9 to 12 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 to 30 days

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Maned Goose
Scientific Name: Chenonetta jubata

MANED GOOSE

Look For	Males with dark brown head and neck, while back, rump, tail, and belly are black, with breast and sides grayish; females head and neck are pale brown with white lines above and below the eye
Nesting Area	Australia
Wintering Area	Not Applicable
Nest Site	Nests are in suitable tree holes
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of second year
When	January to March in New South Wales, but may be found at any time during the year, August to September is often the peak inland
Clutch Size	9 to 11 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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Muscovy
Scientific Name: Cairina moschata

MUSCOVY

Look For	Size of small goose, mostly black with male and female colored similarly, male considerably larger than female and has a pink to red wart-like appearance to the face
Nesting Area	Woodland areas of Mexico through South America except for the southern tip
Wintering Area	Woodland areas of Mexico through South America except for the southern tip
Nest Site	Hollow trees or on branches
Initial Nest	Possibly second year
When	Based on the location they might breed most any month with lesser emphasis on December and January
Clutch Size	9 to 15 white eggs
Incubation	Approximately 35 days

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Wood Duck
Scientific Name: Aix sponsa

WOOD DUCK

FEMALE WOOD DUCK ON NEST

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Look For	Males with green head crest and gray sides, females are mottled, medium brown, white line runs toward eye, eye with a white circle around it
Nesting Area	Virtually the entire eastern United States; has been encouraged by man-made nest boxes placed near water
Wintering Area	Southern half of range
Nest Site	Upright boxes and holes in trees made by natural decay or by woodpeckers; nest is loosely guarded by male when female is inside
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Late March until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size	9 to 14 eggs (two clutches at Chenoa at 10 average)
Incubation	Approximately 31 to 35 days

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Northern Pintail
Scientific Name: Anas acuta acuta

NORTHERN PINTAIL

Look For	Male and female different, male with chocolate brown head and white breast with gray sides and long pointed tail, female similar to Mallard female with pointed tail and light brown head and neck
Nesting Area	Northern United States and Canada, Europe through northern Asia
Wintering Area	Southern United States, northern Africa and southern Asia
Nest Site	Loosely constructed from dry vegetation and usually not as well hidden as most other ducks
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Early May to possibly as late as August based on the locality
Clutch Size	7 to 9 greenish eggs
Incubation	Approximately 23 days

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Canvasback
Scientific Name: Aythya valisineria

CANVASBACK

Look For	Diving duck; males have reddish brown head, light gray sides; female light brown with a mottled appearance
Nesting Area	Central Alaska south to central Oregon and northern Utah, New Mexico, and southern Nebraska
Wintering Area	Chesapeake Bay and San Francisco Bay
Nest Site	Bulky well-concealed nest usually amongst reeds or rushes
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Second week of May
Clutch Size	7 to 10 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 23 to 29 days

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Ferruginous White-eye
Scientific Name: Aythya nyroca

FERRUGINOUS WHITE-EYED

Look For	Male and female similar; male with deep chestnut head, neck and body with dark brownish back and wings, white iris; female somewhat lighter and duller with a brown iris
Nesting Area	Southern Europe and Southern Russia and Asia Minor
Wintering Area	Northern Africa and southern Asia
Nest Site	Close to water in deep vegetation
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	May and June
Clutch Size	8 to 10 pale buff eggs
Incubation	Approximately 26 days

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Red-crested
Scientific Name: Netta rufina

RED-CRESTED

Look For	Diving duck; males have red head, light gray sides, neck and breast are black, bill is bright red; female has dark brown head and nape with whitish cheeks and fore-neck
Nesting Area	Small numbers in Denmark, Germany, Rumania, Netherlands, and Czechoslovakia; more in France, Spain, and USSR
Wintering Area	South to Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas
Nest Site	On islands or in dense vegetation near water's edge and with a tunnel approach; constructed of grass and leaves
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	May and June in the nesting area
Clutch Size	6 to 14 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 26 to 28 days

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Redhead
Scientific Name: Aythya americana

REDHEAD

Look For	Male and female different, male with red head and neck, black chest and rump, gray back and sides; females have a light brown head and neck with a grayish-brown body; both have rounded head and a bluish bill with a black tip.
Nesting Area	British Columbia to Minnesota throughout western United States as far to the south as Colorado
Wintering Area	Southern United States as well as east coast
Nest Site	prairie lakes and marshes
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April and May
Clutch Size	7 to 9 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 24 to 26 days

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Ring-necked
Scientific Name: Aythya collaris

RING-NECKED

Look For	Diving duck; males have black head, light gray sides, white stripes on beak; female is chocolate brown, white cheeks and white at base of bill
Nesting Area	Entire Northern boundary of United States to Nova Scotia, Labrador, British Columbia and Great Slave Lake
Wintering Area	Entire southern United States
Nest Site	Among weeds near water, ground boxes, or hole in lake bank
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	May and June in the nesting area
Clutch Size	6 to 14 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 26 to 27 days

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Rosy-billed
Scientific Name: Netta peposaca

ROSY-BILLED

Look For	Diving duck; male has black head, gray sides, and bright red beak; female is medium brown with bluish gray beak
Nesting Area	Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina
Wintering Area	Not Applicable
Nest Site	Ground boxes or in tall weeds which serve as canopy to shade and hide nest
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	October until December in the nesting area, June until July at Chenoa
Clutch Size	Up to 14 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 23 to 25 days

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Cape Teal
Scientific Name: Anas capensis

CAPE TEAL

Look For	Male and female similar, head and necks are light brown, bodies are speckled brown on tan, bills are pinkish with black at the base, males have black tertials and females have brown
Nesting Area	Central to southern Africa
Wintering Area	Central to southern Africa
Nest Site	Depression in the ground in grass or other thick growth near water
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	March to November according to local
Clutch Size	7 to 9 creamy-brown eggs
Incubation	Approximately 25 to 26 days

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Chestnut Teal
Scientific Name: Anas castanea

CHESTNUT-BREASTED TEAL

Look For	Male and female different; male has green head and neck, dark back feathers with chestnut borders, breast and undersides (dark spotting) are mostly chestnut, eyes are red; females are mostly brown, head is dark and body is dark above with lower feathers bordered in brown
Nesting Area	Eastern, southern, and western costal areas of Australia
Wintering Area	Eastern, southern, and western costal areas of Australia
Nest Site	Scrape in the ground among rushes
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Sometimes as early as June and possibly as late as December
Clutch Size	7 - 15 creamy eggs
Incubation	Approximately 28 days

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Chilean Teal
Scientific Name: Anas flavirostris

CHILEAN TEAL

Look For	Male and female similar, Grayish-brown head and neck with a speckled appearance, dark brown upper feathers with tan margins, bill is yellow with a black margin, female is duller and slightly smaller
Nesting Area	Chile to the southern tip of South America
Wintering Area	Chile yo the southern tip of South America
Nest Site	Generally on the ground, near water, and in tall vegetation
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	September to February
Clutch Size	5 to 8 buff colored eggs
Incubation	Approximately 26 days

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Cinnamon Teal
Scientific Name: Anas cyanoptera

CINNAMON TEAL

Look For	Male and female different; males have a deep chestnut red plumage with blue coverts; females are mottled and spotted with shades of brown and have blue coverts
Nesting Area	Southern British Columbia south through western United States to northern Mexico
Wintering Area	Central America northward to northern California, some spend the year round in southwestern states
Nest Site	thick vegetation usually close top water
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April through June
Clutch Size	9 to 12 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 25 days

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Green-winged Teal
Scientific Name: Anas crecca

GREEN-WINGED TEAL

Look For	Male and female different; males are gray with a chestnut-colored head with a green blaze extending from the eye across the side of the head; females colored similar to a female Mallard with a distinctive green speculum
Nesting Area	Alaska, northwest Canada across southern Canada, and western United States
Wintering Area	Southern half of United States and south through Central America
Nest Site	Dry area well hidden in dense grass or under bushes
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April to June
Clutch Size	8 to 10 creamy-white eggs
Incubation	Approximately 21 days

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Laysan Teal (ENDANGERED)
Scientific Name: Anas platyrhyncos laysanensis

LAYSAN TEAL

Look For	Male has dark head and neck, white ring around the eye, resembles female mallard, but more reddish-brown, green and black speculum, female similar to male with brown speculum
Nesting Area	Laysan Island
Wintering Area	Not Applicable
Nest Site	On the ground under Chenopodium or Scaerola bushes
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Early May until June
Clutch Size	5 to 6 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 26 to 28 days

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Marble Teal
Scientific Name: Marmaronetta angustirostris

MARBLED TEAL

Look For	Male and female similar, head and neck creamy with brown markings and a dark brown patch around the eye, blackish bill with female having a light patch at the base
Nesting Area	Southern Spain and Morocco to Afghanistan and northwest India
Wintering Area	west Africa
Nest Site	On the ground near waterside vegetation, often in colonies, at times on grass roofs
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	May to July
Clutch Size	9 to 14 yellowish-white eggs
Incubation	Approximately 25-27 days

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Ringed Teal
Scientific Name: Callonetta leucophrys

RINGED TEAL

Look For	Male and female different; male with top of head and back of neck black; sides of head grayish-brown; beak, rump, and tail black; back is chestnut sides are gray; female is dark brown on head, neck, and back; there is a white bar above the eye an the cheeks are white; chests and sides are mottled brown
Nesting Area	Central South America east of the Andes, but breeding normally in Argentina and Paraguay
Wintering Area	Central South America east of the Andes
Nest Site	Holes in trees
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Probably September to December, but possibly as late as February in some locals
Clutch Size	5 to 8 eggs
Incubation	Approximately 23 days

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Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Scientific Name: Dendrocygna autumnalis

BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING DUCK

Look For	Male and female alike; head and upper neck are grey; top of head, back of neck and the body are dark rusty-brown; under side is black; bill is pinkish red
Nesting Area	Texas to Mexico and south through Central America
Wintering Area	South Mexico and into Central America, some are known to stay in south Texas
Nest Site	usually in a tree cavity, sometimes on the ground made of grass
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	April to October
Clutch Size	12 t0 16 whitish eggs
Incubation	Approximately 25 to 30 days

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Fulvous Whistling Duck
Scientific Name: Dendrocygna bicolor

FULVOUS WHISTLING DUCK

Look For	Sexes are quite similar, crown is dark brown continuing down the back of the neck, mantel and wings are brownish-black, bills are black
Nesting Area	North America (southwestern United States and Mexico), South America (Panama south to Argentina), Africa (south of the Sahara), and Asia (India and Burma)
Wintering Area	North America (southwestern United States and Mexico), South America (Panama south to Argentina), Africa (south of the Sahara), and Asia (India and Burma)
Nest Site	aquatic vegetation, sometimes built up 1 meter above ground level
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	June and July, but possibly August in some locals
Clutch Size	12 to 17 ivory-colored eggs
Incubation	Approximately 24 to 26 days

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Chiloe Widgeon
Scientific Name: Anas sibilatrix

CHILOE WIDGEON

Look For	Male and female are very similar, male has a white forehead with the remainder of the head being black, upper parts are black with white or buff edging, the flanks are orange, the bills are bluish, females have a dull gray patch instead of a white patch
Nesting Area	Southern portion of South America
Wintering Area	North to Paraguay
Nest Site	Depression in the ground hidden by vegetation
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	August to January
Clutch Size	6 to 9 creamy-white eggs
Incubation	Approximately 26 days

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European Widgeon
Scientific Name: Anas penelope

EUROPEAN WIDGEON

Look For	Male and female different; Male with chestnut head with beige crown, pink breast and gray sides, bill gray; female is brown above and white below, high rounded head and gray bill
Nesting Area	Wide spread throughout most of northern Europe and Asia
Wintering Area	As far south as north Africa, India, China, and Japan
Nest Site	In thick vegetation or under a bush near water
Initial Nest	During spring-summer of first year
When	Early May, but later in more northern localities
Clutch Size	7 to 10 creamy-buff eggs
Incubation	Approximately 23 to 25 days

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Bellrose. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Books. third edition. 1980.

Cogswell. Water Birds of California. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. 1977.

Earley, Chris G. Waterfowl of Eastern North America. Buffalo: Firefly Books. 2005.

Hagner, Chuck. Guide to Ducks and Geese. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania: Stachpole Books. 2006.

Johnsgard. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. Lincoln: The University of Nebraska Press. 1978.

Madge, Steve and Burn, Hilary. Waterfowl: An Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. 1988.

Shortt and Cartwright. Know Your Ducks and Geese. Des Moines, Iowa: Sports Afield. 1980.

Shurtleff, Lawtion L. and Savage, Christopher. The Wood Duck and the Mandarin. Los Angles: University of California press, 1996.

Soothill and Whitehead. Wildfowl of the World. Dorset, Great Britain: Blandford Press. 1978.

Todd, Frank S. Handbook of Waterfowl Identification. Vista, California: Ibis Publishing Company, 1997.

Todd, Frank S. Natural History of the Waterfowl. Vista, California: Ibis Publishing Company, 1997.

Todd, Frank S. Waterfowl: Ducks, Geese and Swans of the World. San Diego: Sea World Press, 1979.

Walton, Richard K. North American Waterfowl - National Audubon Society Pocket Guide. New York: Chanticleer Press, Inc., 1994.

Weller, Milton W. The Island Waterfowl. Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University Press, 1980.

Waterfowl of Chenoa: The Facility

Since 04/02/08

This page was placed in service initially 12/20/95 on www.utm.edu.