Duck ID Help

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Antonsrkn
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Duck ID Help

Post by Antonsrkn »

Hi all, I snapped this shot just over a week ago and I have been having some trouble with IDing all the ducks in the photo.

So using my bird guide I IDed one as an American Widgeon, it was my first time seeing one of those so it was pretty cool. I had assumed the others were mallards but the two darker ones in the top right looked different enough that I thought I would consult the guide. I thought they might be American Black Ducks but looks like american black ducks dont have a white patch on their bellies and these do. Yet they seem to have considerably darker plumage and bills than the mallards in my book. Then I started looking at the other species of ducks and there are a few species where the females look pretty much like female mallards and looking at my photo. It looks like they could be Gadwalls (a species I was unaware of) as well. Funny thing is, now the only duck whose ID im sure about is the one that I went to the guide book to ID in the first place. Could you guys take a look and tell me what you think? They're probably all mallards but I'd appreciate it.
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chrish
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Re: Duck ID Help

Post by chrish »

Left to right...

Mottled Duck (? - where were you?) might be a female wigeon.
American Wigeon
female Gadwall
male Gadwall
male Gadwall
female Gadwall
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Antonsrkn
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Re: Duck ID Help

Post by Antonsrkn »

chrish wrote:Left to right...

Mottled Duck (? - where were you?) might be a female wigeon.
American Wigeon
female Gadwall
male Gadwall
male Gadwall
female Gadwall
Thanks alot! These are in WI, so that first one must be a female widgeon. And as for the gadwalls, Huh well its not the most climactic way to see a new bird, since I didn't even realize It was a new species for me when I was seeing it. I'm guessing I must have seen them before but been guilty of assuming all brown mottled dabbling ducks must be female mallards, I obviously have alot to learn.

Thanks again for the help, its very much appreciated!
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Andy Avram
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Re: Duck ID Help

Post by Andy Avram »

The first one is also a female Gadwall. Wigeon have a blue bill with black borders.

Gadwall are one of my favorites, but an easy way to tell the males is they look a bit like a female Mallard but have a black butt and rump. This feature is on my other male ducks, but they all look distinctive elsewhere. Wait until you see a male Gadwall swimming in good light, maybe not the showiest of ducks, but really a good looking bird.

Andy
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ospr3y
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Re: Duck ID Help

Post by ospr3y »

Agree with Gadwall hen on the leftmost bird. Looks like you can even see the indicative white speculum that differentiates it from similar ducks in the genus.
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Antonsrkn
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Re: Duck ID Help

Post by Antonsrkn »

Thanks guys for the additional clarification, always appreciated!
an easy way to tell the males is they look a bit like a female Mallard but have a black butt and rump.
I'll be sure to remember that!
Wait until you see a male Gadwall swimming in good light, maybe not the showiest of ducks, but really a good looking bird.
I'll go back to this area sometime soonish and hopefully then I will get a chance to see what youre talking about.
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chrish
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Re: Duck ID Help

Post by chrish »

Antonsrkn wrote:Thanks guys for the additional clarification, always appreciated!
an easy way to tell the males is they look a bit like a female Mallard but have a black butt and rump.
I'll be sure to remember that!
Wait until you see a male Gadwall swimming in good light, maybe not the showiest of ducks, but really a good looking bird.
I'll go back to this area sometime soonish and hopefully then I will get a chance to see what youre talking about.
I have to agree. Male Gadwall are quite a striking duck, IMHO. The relatively uniform gray with a black butt is one of the first ducks I learned to ID in the field. I still find them very elegant looking. And when they fly, that big swath of white in the wings is really neat on such a monochromatic bird.
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