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| DIVING DUCKS |
| Scaups (Lesser & Greater) - Also called Bluebill & Broadbill, for obvious reasons, bill is blue & broad - Two tone; dark head, neck & tail. White in middle. Head dark and glossy. - Broad white stripe on trailing edge of wing, seen in flight - Female dark brown with white patch at base of bill |
| Ring-Necked Duck - Ring around base of bill and at tip - Neck ring hard to see and purple in color - Very Scaup-like in appearance, but with black back - Sharp vertical white mark in front of wing - Broad gray wing-stripe seen in flight - Female is brown with white eye ring and ring on bill |
| Canvasback - Fastest & biggest diver - Triangular red face and red neck, with red eye - Broad bill sloping down from face with no curve - Black breast, white back & sides, black tip on tail - Notice red head, pointy bill & long neck in flight - Female grayish brown |
| Redhead - Similar to Canvasback in color, except not as white, more grayish tinge to white body - Bill bluish in color and slightly curved upward - Smaller than Canvasback - Female brown |
| Common Goldeneye - Mid Size Duck - White round cheek patch, obvious in flight - Yellow eye, greenish/blackish head - Body black & white on back, white on sides. Black & white pattern visible in flight also. - Female, gray body, brown head, white neck ring |
| Bufflehead - Male has high white crown/crest, even obvious when not erect - White underbody, black on back - Small, blue bill - Female gray/brown in color with white cheek patch and white breast - Smallest Diver |
| Ruddy Duck - Cinnamon body in breeding color, gray in winter - Large white patch from bill to back of head, under eye - Dark head, blue bill - Holds tail stiffly erect, called "stiff tailed" duck - Small & chubby in size - Female grayish in color with dark line crossing cheek patch. - Shows breeding colors in spring, unlike other ducks which are in breeding colors in winter. |
| Mergansers There are three types of Mergansers on LI: Hooded: - White crown/crest (obvious even in flight) - White chest, black back & rust colored sides - Small in size - Black face, razor sharp and pointed bill - Female brown in color, same profile, with dark crest Red Breasted - Sharp orange/red bill, - Large white neck ring, mottled red breast - Black & white body - Head glossy greenish/black - Crest ragged, looks like "bad hair day" - Female pale gray with reddish head crest & head Common - Not seen as often - Sharp orange/red bill - Dark green/ black back, white sides - Same Merganser profile but appears much whiiter than other Mergansers - Female gray body with reddish head & chest |
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| Greater Scaup photo copyright Tim Zurowski |
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| Lesser Scaup photo copyright Tom Vezo |
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| Canvasback Photo by Dianne |
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| Ruddy Duck photo copyright G.C.Kelley |
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| Red-breasted Merganser photo copyright Mark F. Wallner |
| Redhead photo copyright Chuck Gordon |
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| Common Merganser Photo by James Galletto |
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| Ring-necked Duck Photo by James Galletto |
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| Common Goldeneye Photo by Mike Farina |
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| Bufflehead Photos by Mike Farina |
| Diving Ducks: Basic Characteristics - Legs placed closer to rear of body, walks on land with some difficulty - Dives to feed; up to 40' in depth, wings tucked when diving - Feeds in deeper water than Dabblers - When swimming, sits low with tail in water - Less colorful than Dabblers - Takes flight by using feet to propel forward; appears to be running on the water |
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| Hooded Merganser M&F Photo by Bob Levine |
| For more information on ducks, go to ENature.com |