Types of Ducks
Ducks fall into two camps: dabblers that tip up in the shallows, like the Mallard, and divers that vanish underwater for their food, like the Bufflehead. Males wear their boldest colors from fall through spring, which is the easiest time to tell species apart. Here are the ducks in the Huck field guide.
13 ducks in the Huck field guide. Tap any one for identification, habitat, diet, and a live sightings map.
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Get Huck - freeCommon questions
What is the difference between a dabbling and a diving duck?
Dabblers (Mallard, teal, pintail) feed by tipping tail-up in shallow water and can spring straight into flight. Divers (scaup, Bufflehead, mergansers) dive fully under, sit lower in the water, and patter across the surface to take off.
What kind of duck is at my local pond?
The default is the Mallard, or a barnyard mix descended from them. Others to expect on town ponds are Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, and in winter Ring-necked Ducks and Buffleheads. Drake plumage is the quickest ID.