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| DABBLING DUCKS |
| Mallard - One of the bigger ducks in size - Male has curled tail, obvious even in flight - Has white stripes over & under speculum - Female has stripe across eye - Yellowish bill, Green head, White neck-ring |
| Northern Pintail - Same size as Mallard, but appears bigger - White crescent band goind up side of neck toward back of head - Straight long-pointed tail, obvious in flight - Long thin light blue bill, dark head, white neck - Female mottled brown |
| Shoveler - Broad, flat bill (distinctive) - Medium size duck - Dark head, colorful body (black & white with rufous on sides and belly) - Female mottled brown |
| Blue Wing Teal - Large white crescent in front of eye on male - Dark head & neck, white under tail - Large chalky blue patch on forewing - Second smallest of Dabblers |
| Green Wing Teal - Green speculum, green around eye - Gray body with chestnut head - Vertical white mark in front of wing, seen when swimming - Yellow spot near tail base (not easily seen) - Female speckled brown with green speculum - Smallest of Dabblers |
| Gadwall - Larger than Teal - Black bill, grey in color overall, belly white - Black rump, white at edge of tail - Only Dabbler to have white speculum - Female brown, with white speculum - Dark Bill, yellow feet |
| American Wigeon - White head stripe, nicknamed "baldpate" - Tail has white & black striped appearance - Large white patch in front of wing - Sits high in water - Female brown |
| Wood Duck - Most ornate duck, mid size, very colorful - Often perches in trees, cavity nester - Male has shaply patterned face, swept back crest - White belly seen in flight - White on neck, iridescence on body - Female dull-colored with white eye patch |
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| Male & Female Mallards Photos by Bob Levine |
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| Photo by Bob Levine |
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| Photo by Bob Levine |
| Photo by Bob Levine |
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| Dabbling Ducks: Basic Characteristics - Legs centrally located on body; walks on land easily - Tips up to feed, with rear-end out of water - Feeds in shallow water - When swimming, sits high in water with head high, and tail out of water - Takes flight by bolting straight up and out of water - Lots of color |
| For more information on ducks, go to ENature.com |