Govt.

Holkar Science College Indore

Name– Shubham Raghuwanshi

Class– B.Sc 6th sem

Section- B14

Subject– Zoology pratical

Submitted To- Submitted By-

Shubham Raghuwanshi
 WATERFOWL
IDENTIFICATION
 Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Parts of Waterfowl
• Identification Factors
• Administrative Waterfowl Flyways
• Waterfowl Classification and
Identification
 Introduction
Both hunters and birdwatchers have
an interest in waterfowl.
For the hunter, quick recognition
allows taking of species with higher
bag limits.
Since birders do not take waterfowl,
correct identification allows accurate
recording of sightings.
 Parts of the Waterfowl

Ducks and geese have basically the

same anatomy.
Knowledge of their parts aids
identification.
The color of the head and wings, as
well as the shape of the head,
makes it possible to identify the
species.
As with many birds, the males are
often more colorful than the females.

Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Parts of the Waterfowl
Surface of Duck Wing
Upper Surface Under Surface
 Identification Factors

Ducks are harder to identify than

geese.
Ducks fly faster with a faster wing
beat.
Also, color markings on geese are
simpler than ducks.
The four factors that help identify
ducks are:
• flock pattern,
• silhouettes,
• color areas, and
• sound.
Flock Patterns
Three typical flock patterns are
waving lines to temporary V’s, small
compact bunches, and follow-the-
leader formation.
Different species use different
patterns.
Waving Line to Temporary V Pattern
Small, Compact Bunches
Follow-the-Leader Formation
Silhouette
A silhouette is the outline of a duck’s
features.
Silhouettes are helpful during the
early morning hours.
Sound

Sound is more than the way ducks

quack.
Ducks can also whistle, squeal, or
grunt.
Their sound in flight also can be
used to identify species.
 Color
Color can be a difficult way to
identify ducks because of their fast
flight.
It leaves little time to identify and
then shoot.
With practice, key color areas, size,
and location can make identification
easier.
Plumage color and shape are two
keys to correct identification.
Drakes have brighter color patterns
than hens.
Most ducks molt twice a year.
Eclipse plumage is a condition when
the drake molts and carries hen-like
plumage.
 Administrative Waterfowl
Flyways
Four flyways cross the United States
in a north-south direction:
Texas is in the Central Flyway.
A flyway is a migration path common to
both ducks and geese.
Flyways allow for management of
waterfowl by flyway councils.

Photo by Gary Stolz courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 Waterfowl Classification and
Identification
In this presentation, waterfowl will
be grouped as follows:
• Tree ducks • Geese
• Surface-feeding • Other migratory
ducks game birds
• Diving ducks • Non-game
waterfowl
Photo by Bob Stratton courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Glen Smart courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 Surface-Feeding Ducks
Also known as puddle ducks, surface-
feeding ducks prefer shallow water
habitat.
They are good divers, but prefer to
feed on vegetation by dabbling or
tipping.
When they take flight, they launch
themselves directly upward.
Below are the surface-feeding ducks
discussed in this presentation.
• Mallard • Shovelers
• Pintail • Teals
• Black duck • Gadwall
• Widgeons • Wood duck
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
The mallard is a common duck identifiable
by its green head and narrow white collar.
It is grayish with a purplish-brown breast.
The hen is mottled brown with a whitish
tail.
They may reach 24 inches and weigh 2 ¾
pounds.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Gene Nieminen courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Pintail
Anas Acuta
The pintail is easily recognized by the
needle point tail, or sprig.
The white on the breast extends to a
point on the side of the pintail’s head.
The sprig of the female is modified and
prevents easy identification.
Females are mottled brown with white
on outer borders of secondaries.
Photo by Peter Mickelson courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Black Duck
Anas rubripes

The white wing linings of black ducks

are visible in flight.
Wings have a metallic violet patch,
while the body is sooty-brown and
the head is gray-brown.
Black ducks and mallards are often
seen together.
Photo by Glen Smart courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Widgeons
There are two species of widgeons, the
European widgeon (Anas penelope) and the
American widgeon (Anas americana).
Both have pale blue bills with black tips.
Female widgeons can be confused with
gadwall and pintail species.
Their fast, nervous flight resembles that
of a pigeon.
American Widgeon

Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

European Widgeon

Photo by Lee Karney courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Shoveler (Spoonbills)
Spatula clypeata
Shovelers are small puddle ducks.
They get their name from their spoon-
shaped bill.
Males are black and white with blackish-
green heads and a pale blue patch on
the forewing.
Females are mottled brown with large,
pale blue wing patches.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Teals
Teals are the smallest of puddle ducks
with a 14 to 15 ounce body that
measures only 16 inches in length.
There are three species of teal:
• blue-winged teal,
• cinnamon teal, and
• green-winged teal.
Blue-winged Teal
Anas discors

Blue-winged teal have a white

crescent in front of their eyes and a
large chalky-blue patch on the
forewings.
Females are mottled brown and also
have the large blue patch on the
forewings.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Cinnamon Teal
Anas cyanoptera

Cinnamon teal are dark cinnamon-

red in color. They have a chalky-
blue patch on the fore edge of
wings.
The female is mottled brown with a
pale blue wing patch.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Green-winged Teal
Anas carolinensis
Green-winged teal males are gray with
brown heads that have a green patch in
sunlight.
They have a white mark in front of the
wings and a creamy-colored patch towards
the tail.
The female is speckled. Both male and
female have an iridescent green speculum.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Jessie Achtenberg courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Gadwall
Anas strepera
Large gadwall populations exist in the
Central Flyway.
They are referred to as “gray mallards”
because of their size and color pattern.
Gadwalls are one of the first species to
migrate and do not like cold weather.
They are the only puddle duck with a white
speculum. Their bodies are gray with black
rumps.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Wood ducks are the most highly colored
ducks in North America.
Males have a crested head with strange face
patterns.
They perch in trees and can fly through
timber with great speed.
They eat acorns, berries, and grapes.
There are fewer wood ducks in the Central
Flyway than in other flyways.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 Diving Ducks
Diving ducks prefer deep water
habitats.
Their wing patches lack the brilliance of
the puddle ducks.
They will dive rapidly to escape danger.
When they take to flight, they will “run”
across the surface of the water.
Diving ducks use their huge feet as
rudders in flight.
They eat fish, mollusks, and aquatic
plants, giving their meat a less-
desired flavor than meat from puddle
ducks.
The species below are identified in
this presentation of diving ducks.
• Canvasback • Bufflehead
• Ring-necked • Mergansers
• Redhead • Ruddy
• Scaup • Scoter
• Goldeneyes
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria

The canvasback male has a white

back from which it gets its name.
Its head and neck are rusty in color
and the breast is black.
Females are grayish in color with a
hint of red on the head and neck.
Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Eugene Hester courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris

Ring-necks have a white ring on their bills

and males have a faint brown ring on their
necks.
Ring-necks winter through most of Texas,
avoiding the northern Panhandle.
Ring-neck males have a black back, head,
and chest. Females are brown and have
white eye-rings.
Photo by Dick Paspahala courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Redhead Duck
Aythya americana

Redhead drakes have a chestnut-colored

head, black breast, and gray back.
Hens are brownish in color.
Both have a black tip on their bills.
This species migrates south to winter
along coastal bays of South Texas.
They may migrate to Mexico and as far as
the West Indies.
Photo by Dick Pospahala courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Scaup
Two species of scaup are found in
Texas, the greater scaup (Aythya marila)
and the lesser scaup (Aythya affinis).
They migrate late, just before freeze-
up.
The color of both species is nearly
the same, with size being the main
reason for the difference in names.
The greater scaup appears black at
head and tail ends.
Its head is glossed with green.
The middle is white and the back is
barred.
The greater scaup has a longer band
of white on the wing than does the
lesser scaup.
Greater Scaup

Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The more numerous lesser scaup is
similar in color to the greater scaup.
It has a dull purple gloss to the head
and a shorter white band on the
wing.
The female is brown. It has a broad
white stripe on the wing and white at
the base of the bill.
Lesser Scaup

Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Goldeneyes

There are two species of

goldeneyes found in Texas, the
American goldeneye, also called
common goldeneye, and the
Barrow’s goldeneye.
American Goldeneye(Common)
Bucephala clangula

The common goldeneye male is white

with a black back and blackish-green
head.
A large white patch before the eye is
distinguishing.
The common goldeneye shows larger
white patches on the wing than the
Barrow’s goldeneye.
Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Barrow’s Goldeneye
The Barrow’s goldeneye is similar in
color to the common goldeneye.
The white spot before the eyes on
drakes is larger on the Barrow’s
species.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
The bufflehead is one of the smallest
ducks.
Buffleheads are mostly white with a
black back and head which has a large
white patch that extends from the eye
around the back of the head.
Unlike other diving ducks, the bufflehead
can fly straight up to take flight.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mergansers

Mergansers have spike-like bills with

toothed mandibles to catch fish.
The three species of mergansers are
the common merganser, the red-
breasted merganser, and the
hooded merganser.
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser

The common merganser is the largest

of the mergansers.
The bill and feet are red.
Male mergansers have white bodies
with black backs and green-black
heads.
Females have crested gray heads.
Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator

The red-breasted merganser prefers

coastal areas.
The male has a greenish-black crested
head, a wide white collar, a rusty-
colored breast at the waterline and red
bill and feet.
Females are gray with large, square,
white wing patches.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Hooded Merganser
Laphodytes cucullatus
The hooded merganser prefers inland
waters.
The male has a black back and head
which has a white crest.
The breast is white with two vertical
black bars. The flanks are brownish
colored.
Photo by Tim McCabe courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Glen Smart courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
The ruddy duck is the only duck specie
that will cock its tail upward like a wren.
The male may be a rusty or gray color
with a black or dark cap depending on
season.
It has white cheeks and a blue bill.
Females are gray with light cheeks that
have a dark line.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Scoter
There are three species of scoter
ducks, which are all sea ducks.
They rarely visit Texas, but can
sometimes be seen along the coast
in the winter.
The three species of scoters are the
white-winged scoter, the surf scoter,
and the common scoter.
White-winged Scoter
Melanitta deglandi

Male white-winged scoters are a dark,

coal-black duck, with a white patch on
the rear edge of the wing.
A small spot of white may show just
below the eye and the bill is orange
with a black knob.
Females are sooty-brown with a white
wing patch and light head patches.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata

Male surf scoters are black, with one

or two white patches on the crown
and back of the head.
The bill is a combination of orange,
black, and white.
The female surf scoter is a light brown
with two light spots on the face.
Common Scoter
Oidemia nigra

The common scoter male is entirely

black with a bright yellow-orange
knob at the base of its bill.
The female is a sooty color. The
head is darker on top with lighter
cheeks.
 Geese

Geese are larger than ducks.

They fly in a V-formation and are
very vocal.
Geese do not exhibit eclipse plumage
and both sexes look alike.
They feed largely on grain and
stubble fields.
The species of geese listed below are
discussed in this presentation.
• Canada Goose
• White-fronted Goose
• Snow Goose
• Blue Goose
• Brant
• Ross’ Goose
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
The Canada goose is the largest of the
geese, weighing about 12 pounds.
Their loud vocal sound gives them the
nickname “honkers.”
Canada geese are grayish-brown with a
light-colored breast.
The head and neck are black with a
white mark on the side of the head.
Photo by Gary Stolz courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons

The white-fronted goose is often

referred to as a “specklebelly.”
Its legs are bright orange or yellow,
unlike other goose species.
White-fronted geese tend to stay in
the Central and Pacific flyways.
The white-fronted
goose is a gray-
brown color with
irregular black bars
on the belly. It has
a pink bill and white
patch on the front
of its face.
Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Snow Goose
Chen caerulescens

There are two sub-species of snow

geese, the greater snow goose and
the lesser snow goose.
The greater snow goose migrates
along the Atlantic Coast.
The lesser snow goose populates
the rest of the continent.
Snow geese are white with black wing
tips and sometimes have a rusty color
on their heads.

Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo by Dave Menke courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Blue Goose
Chen caerulescens

The blue goose is believed by many

to be only a color phase of the
lesser snow goose.
They associate with the lesser snow
goose and their vocal sound is
exactly like the lesser snow goose.
The blue goose is dark with a white
head and neck.
Brant
Branta bernicla

The brant is about the size of a

mallard and prefers the coastal
areas.
The black brant and the Atlantic
brant are the only true varieties of
brant.
The brant has a black neck with a
small white streak on the side.
The white lower abdominal area
contrasts the dark brownish-gray
body and is very noticeable when
the brant upends.
Photo by Peter Mickelson courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Don Becker courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ross’ Goose
Chen rossii

The Ross’ goose is also mallard-size

and similar in appearance to the
larger snow goose, except without
the black “lips.”
It is a casual visitor to Texas,
preferring California for its winter
grounds.
Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 Other Migratory Game Birds

Seasons, shooting hours, and bag

limits are set for other waterfowl
besides ducks and geese.
Sandhill cranes, coots, woodcocks,
and snipes are late season migratory
game birds.
All are edible and considered very
tasty.
Always consult current hunting
regulations for identified seasons.
If a species does not have an
identified season, it is an illegal
game bird.
Below is a list of other migratory game
birds shown in this presentation.
• Coots
• Sandhill Cranes
• Woodcock
• Snipe
• Rails
• Gallinules
Coot
Fulica americana

The American
coot has a larger
population and a
higher bag limit
than other legal
waterfowl.

Photo by Gary Kramer courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis

Sandhill cranes
require special
attention prior to
hunting season.
Hunting zones
vary in length of
season and no
season exists in
parts of Texas. Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Woodcock
Philohela minor

Photo by Richard Baetson courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Wilson’s Snipe (Common)
Capella gallinago

Photo by Gary Kramer courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo by W. F. Kubichek courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Rails
The following rails have hunting
seasons in Texas:
• King Rail,
• Clapper Rail,
• Virginia Rail, and
• Sora Rail
King Rail (Rallus elegans)

Photo by Jim Rathert courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris)

Sora (Porzana carolina)

Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo by Robert Hines courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Galluniles (Moorhens)

Two species of galluniles have

seasons in Texas.

• Common Gallinule
• Purple Gallinule
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus

Photo by Jim Rathert courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

 Non-Game Waterfowl
More than ducks and geese inhabit
marsh and coastal areas.
These waterfowl species, which
include threatened and endangered
species, have little or no food value.
They serve mainly as predators or
scavengers and benefit humans
through their aesthetic value.
Some species such as the whooping crane,
pelican, and cormorant are illegal to hunt.
These species mostly benefit birdwatchers.
Below are the species shown in this
presentation.
• Whooping Crane
• Pelican
• Cormorant
Whooping Crane
Grus americana

The whooping crane

winters in Texas and
is one of the rarest
North American bird
species.

Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo by Steve Hillebrand courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Brown pelicans can
often be seen
perched on posts or
boats and flying in
lines very close to
the water. Unlike
the white pelican,
the brown pelican
can plunge bill first
into the water. Photo by Dean Biggins courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Photo by Lee Karney courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Cormorant
There are two species of cormorants
which may be found in Texas.
It is difficult to distinguish the two
species when they are not seen together.
Double-crested Cormorant

Most likely, the double-

crested cormorant is
the one seen inland,
while the Mexican
cormorant resides
mainly along the coast.
Photo by Donna Dewhurst courtesy of U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus

Photo by Lee Karney courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.