DABBLING DUCKS

Dabbling Ducks (sub-family - Anatinae) consist of fifty to sixty species of duck which include
Gadwall, Garganey, Mallard, Pintails, Shovelers, Teal, and Wigeon as well as many other
ducks. These ducks get their name because they feed in shallow water by dabbling or upending
on the surface of the water as opposed to diving underwater for their food. Their legs are placed
further forward on their body, compared to a diving duck, so they can comfortably walk and
sometimes feed on land. Mallard, Pintail, Teal, and Wigeon are mainly vegetarians, eating
aquatic plants including leaves, seeds, and shoots in or near the water. The Shoveler has a
spatulate beak which allows it to suck in water as it swims and filter any food particles before
squirting the remaining water from the sides of its beak. Dabbling Ducks can easily take to flight
straight from the water, when compared to Diving Ducks, which have to run across the water in
order to take off. Northern Hemisphere Dabbling Ducks are highly migratory and strong fliers.

African Black Duck

(Anas Sparsa)

Bronze-winged Duck
(Speculanas Specularis)

Falcated Duck
(Anas Falcata)

Gadwall
(Anas Strepera)

Garganey
(Anas Querquedula)

Spot-billed Duck
(Anas Poecilorhyncha)

Laysan Duck
(Anas Laysanensis)

Mallard
(Anas Platyrhynchos)

Pacific Black Duck

(Anas Superciliosa)

DIVING DUCK
There are about sixteen species of Diving Duck (Subfamily: Aythyinae) including the
Canvasback, Ferruginous Duck, Hardhead, Marbled Duck, Pochard (Baer's, Common,
Madagascar, Red-crested, and Southern), Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Rosybill, Scaup
(Greater, Lesser, and New Zealand), and the Tufted Duck. These ducks mainly feed by diving
underwater for their food on fresh water lakes or on estuaries. Their feet are placed further back
on their body, compared to a dabbling duck, giving them more efficient propulsion on and under
the water, which makes them better swimmers, and divers. However, this means diving ducks
find it harder to walk on land, and can be seen to shuffle along clumsily with an upright stance
trying to maintain their balance.

Canvasback
(Aythya Valisineria)

Ferruginous Duck
(Aythya Nyroca)

Hardhead
(Aythya Australis)

Marbled Duck
(Marmaronetta Angustirostris)

Common Pochard
(Aythya Ferina)

Red-crested Pochard
(Netta Rufina)

Southern Pochard
(Netta Erythrophthalma)

Baer's Pochard
(Aythya Baeri)

Madagascar Pochard
(Aythya Innotata)

PERCHING DUCK
Perching Ducks (Cairininae or Cairinini) include the Blue Duck, Brazilian Duck, Comb Duck,
Hartlaub's Duck, Australian Wood Duck, Mandarin Duck, Muscovy Duck, Pink-eared Duck,
Pygmy Goose (African, Cotton, and Green), Ringed Teal, Salvadori's Teal, Torrent Duck,
White-winged Duck, and American Wood Duck. Perching Ducks are so called because they like
to perch high in trees beside the water. They nest in tree cavities and have strong claws to help
them grip. They prefer a habitat of wooded lakes and rivers.

Blue Duck
(Hymenolaimus
Malacorhynchos)

Brazilian Duck
(Amazonetta Brasiliensis)

Comb Duck
(Sarkidiornis Melanotos)

Hartlaub's Duck
(Pteronetta Hartlaubii)

Australian Wood Duck

(Chenonetta Jubata)

Mandarin
(Aix Galericulata)

Muscovy Duck
(Cairina Moschata)

Pink-eared Duck
(Malacorhynchus
Membranaceus)

African Pygmy Goose

(Nettapus Auritus)

STIFF-TAIL DUCK (OXYURINAE)

Stiff-tail Ducks belong to the Oxyura genus or Oxyurinae sub-family and include five species
including the Argentine Blue-bill or Lake Duck, Blue-billed Duck, Maccoa Duck, Ruddy Duck,
and White-headed Duck. The Musk Duck is also a Stiff-tail Duck but is the only living member
of the genus Biziura. All these ducks have distinctive long stiff tail feathers which are erect when
the bird is at rest, and have swollen beaks. The legs are set far back on their body making it
difficult to walk on land so they much prefer being on the water.

Maccoa Duck
(Oxyura Maccoa)

Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura Jamaicensis)

White-headed Duck
(Oxyura Leucocephalia)

Blue-billed Duck
(Oxyura Australis)

Lake Duck
(Oxyura Vittata)

Musk Duck
(Biziura Lobata)

SEA DUCK
Sea Ducks (sub-family - Merginae) include the following species of duck: Bufflehead, Eiders
(Common, King, Spectacled, and Steller's), Goldeneyes (Barrow's and Common), Harlequin
Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Mergansers (Brazilian, Scaly-sided, Common, Hooded, and Redbreasted), Scoters (Black, Common, Surf, Velvet, and White-winged), and Smew.
Many sea ducks winter along the coasts and have developed specialized salt glands to allow
them to tolerate salt water. In the breeding season they may lay their eggs further inland by lakes,
streams and rivers, because the young take time to develop their ability to tolerate salt water. The
Mergansers and the Smew are fish eating ducks and have a serrated beak which helps them to
grasp their prey when diving for food. Other sea ducks will feed on molluscs and crustaceans
from the sea floor.

Bufflehead
(Bucephala Albeola)

Common Eider
(Somateria Mollissima)

King Eider
(Somateria Spectabilis)

Spectacled Eider
(Somateria Fischeri)

Steller's Eider
(Polysticta Stelleri)

Barrow's Goldeneye
(Bucephala Islandica)

Common Goldeneye
(Bucephala Clangula)

Harlequin Duck
(Hisrionicus Histrionicus)

Long-tailed Duck
(Clangula Hyemalis)

SHELDUCK
The Shelducks are part of the 'Tadorna' genus which include about six species such as the
Australian Shelduck, Common Shelduck, Paradise Shelduck, Radjah Shelduck, Ruddy
Shelduck, and South African Shelduck or Cape Shelduck.
Shelducks are a relatively large species of duck. They all have a characteristic upperwing
coloration in flight with a green speculum, black primary and secondary flight feathers and the
coverts (forewing) are white.

Australian Shelduck
(Tadorna Tadornoides)

Radjah Shelduck
(Tadorna Radjah)

Common Shelduck
(Tadorna Tadorna)

Ruddy Shelduck
(Tadorna Ferruginea)

Paradise Shelduck
(Tadorna Variegata)

South African Shelduck

(Tadorna Cana)

WHISTLING DUCK
There are eight species of Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna) including the Black-bellied Whistling
Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Lesser Whistling Duck, Plumed Whistling Duck, Spotted
Whistling Duck, Wandering Whistling Duck, West Indian Whistling Duck, and the Whitefaced Whistling Duck. The Whistling Ducks have a long neck, long legs, and a hunched
appearance. The male and female have a similar plumage and have black underwings. They also
have distinctive whistling calls.

Black-bellied Whistling
Duck
(Dendrocygna Autumnalis)

Fulvous Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Bicolor)

Lesser Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Javanica)

Plumed Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Eytoni)

Spotted Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Guttata)

Wandering Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Arcuata)

West Indian Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Arborea)

White-faced Whistling Duck

(Dendrocygna Viduata