Puddle Ducks Between December and March, it’s common to spot a variety of “puddle” ducks swimming in almost any local freshwater pond (referred to as a “puddle” in comparison to a lake). It is often hard to distinguish each species from a distance without binoculars, but I find that a camera with a telephoto lens works well. Puddle ducks are also called “dabblers” because they normally feed by dabbling or tipping (tail up) rather than submerging underwater like “Diving Ducks” (covered in this post). Here are the 11 species of puddle ducks found in and around Beaufort ... Only two species can be found permanently living in and around Beaufort: the Mallard and the Wood Duck. The others species are migratory and arrive in November, staying for about four months on their “winter break.” Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Because the Mallard is the most common of the local puddle ducks, I featured them in a previous photo-blog (In Praise of the Mallard). Many Mallards, but not all, are year-round residents. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Wood Ducks with their colorfully painted ornate plumage are always a thrill to see. Although they live here year round, they are not as easy to spot as the Mallard, often hiding in isolated marshes within forests. Here’s the female Wood Duck… Here’s Mama Wood Duck and her family in April… American Wigeon (Anas americana) The American Wigeon is migratory, spending only the winter months around Beaufort. Note the male’s distinctive white bill and green eye shadow. His rather short white bill looks like it belongs on a rubber ducky. Here’s the female American Wigeon from two different angles… Gadwall Anas strepera The male Gadwall lacks distinctive markings, having no patches of iridescent green or white feathers like other ducks. Nevertheless, he’s probably my favorite duck. I admire the intricate patterns of plumage that make the Gadwall unique… Here’s the female Gadwall. Because of her orange bill, I find it easy to confuse her with a female Mallard… Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Pintails tend to avoid humans, so I have only rarely seen them. The long pointy tail does make them stand out from other ducks. Note the white stripe up the back of the head on the male… Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) The enormous spoon-shaped bill of Shovelers make them look sort of unbalanced. Yet it is no doubt a handy tool for sifting through mud and sand to find a meal. The hen, like other female ducks, has the same bill and body shape as the male, but with brownish plumage… Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) The male Teal is easy to recognize with that prominent white crescent-shaped patch on his face. Note the pale blush of blue behind his eye… So where’s the blue wing of the Blue-Winged Teal? Unfortunately, it’s only visible during flight. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) Although this duck is not very common here, it is possible to encounter one if you’re in the right place at the right time. So where’s the green wing on the Green-winged Teal? It must be hidden. Note the vertical white shoulder stripe… Both male and female Green-winged Teals have speckled breasts… American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) They might be called “black” but its not an accurate description? Note that the male Black Duck does have a black-colored eye. I spotted this pair feeding alone near Ft. Macon Visitor’s Center in a shallow pond (actually a large puddle created temporarily by heavy rainfall)… Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Muscovy Ducks do exist in the wild, but it’s likely that the ones I encountered locally are domestic ones. The endless variety of plumage patterns make these ducks interesting. Generally, they are white and black with red wattling around the bill and face… Pekin Duck (domestic) Last but not least, is the domestic duck, which I occasionally encounter on a pond. Often, these pure white ducks are mingling with wild Mallards. Breeding is possible, resulting in a variety of odd hybrids. Whenever you see this behavior, you know it’s a dabbling duck … To see more duck photos… In Praise of the Mallard >> Diving Ducks >> Ducks on a California Lake >> Please follow and like: Share this:FacebookXLike this:Like Loading... Post navigation In Praise of the MallardDiving Ducks