Mallard (Greenhead)
Male - Winter
Body: Large duck, 2 1/2 - 3
pounds, 24-28 inches long. Chestnut chest, white belly, dark rump and white
tail. Head brilliant green. White neck-ring. Bill greenish yellow. Feet dull to
bright reddish orange. Wings: Grayish brown with bright blue speculum bordered
on leading and trailing edges with distinct white bars. Voice: Low raspy rink.
In flight: White tail and underwings contrast with dark chest and head
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Mallard (Greenhead)
Male - Fall
Ranging from drab hen-like appearance to blotchy near-winter coloration. Bill, wings and feet same as in winter.
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Mallard (Greenhead)
Female - All Seasons
Body: Drab brown with whitish tail. Bill orange with black spots or blotches. Feet orangish. Wings: Similar to male but usually more buffy-edged coverts. White bar on leading edge of speculum extends over the tertial coverts. Voice: Loud resonant quack.
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Black Duck (Black Mallard, Black)
Body:
Large duck, 2 1/2 - 3 pounds, 24-28 inches long. Dark sooty appearance
with lighter head. Bill of male yellow to greenish yellow; female bill
greenish olive with blotches. Feet orange to reddish orange. Wings: Dark with purplish blue speculum bordered with black bars on leading and trailing edges. Voice: Female, loud quack; male, low raspy rink. In Flight: Black body contrasts with white underwings.  |
Mottled Duck (Summer Mallard, Black)
Body: Large duck, 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 pounds, 19 - 22
inches long. Dark but lighter than Black Duck because of more buff
edging. Head and neck buffy with thin streaking. Chin of female lacks
streaking; male chin slight to moderate streaking. Bill of male yellow
to greenish yellow; female bill orange with black spots or blotches.
Feet orange to bright reddish orange. Wings: Similar to Black Duck although lighter. Trailing edge of speculum often bordered with faint white bars. Voice: Female, loud quack; male, low raspy rink. In Flight: Identical to Black Duck. Note: Restricted to gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana
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Mexican Duck
Body: Large duck, 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 pounds, 19 - 22
inches long. Dark appearance similar to Mottled Duck. Head and neck
buffy with distinct streaking. Bill of male yellow to greenish yellow;
female bill orange with black spots or blotches. Feet orange to reddish
orange. Wings: Purplish blue to greenish blue
speculum bordered with black and white bars on leading and trailing
edges. White bar on leading edge sometimes indistinct or buffy. Voice: Female, loud quack; male, low raspy rink. In Flight: Similar to Black and Mottled ducks. Note: Restricted to Trans-Pecos of Texas, Western New Mexico and Eastern Arizonan.
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Northern Pintail (Spring)
Body:
Large-appearing duck, 2 - 2 1/2 pounds, 22-27 inches long. White over
neck, chest an bedlly. Head brown. Bill bluish with black strip down
middle. Feet gray. Elongated black tail. Wings: Distinct gray with iridescent green speculum bordered on leading edge wth buff and trailing edge with white. Voice: Whistle. In Flight: Very elongated body. White neck and belly contrasts with dark head.
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Northern Pintail (Spring)
Male - Fall
Ranging from mottled drab grayish brown plumage to a blotchy near-winter coloration. Bill, feet and wings same as in winter.
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Northern Pintail (Spring)
Female - All Seasons
Body: Mottled drab brown. Head dull brown. Bill gray with small black spots. Feet gray. Wings: Mottled brown and buff with dull brownish speculum. Voice: Hoarse quack.
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Gadwall (Gray Duck)
Male - Winter
Body: Medium-sized duck, 1 1/2 - 2 pounds, 18-20
inches long. Gray-brown appearance. White belly. Black upper-and
undertail coverts. Bill black with trace of orange at base and on lower
edge. Feet bright orangish yellow. Wings: White in speculum (only puddle duck with such). Greater coverts black; part of middle and lesser coverts chestnut. Voice: Whistle and nyaak In Flight: White belly and dark rump. White and black wing speculum evident.
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Gadwall (Gray Duck)
Male - Fall
Ranging from mottled grayish brown to near-winter coloration. Dark
gray, crescent-marked feathers on chest. Black in tail coverts. Bill
orangish. Feet and wings same as in winter.
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Gadwall (Gray Duck)
Female - All Seasons
Body: Mottled buff and brown. White belly. Bill yellow-orange with black spotting. Feet bright orangish yellow. Wings: Mottled gray similar to male but with less black and chestnut in coverts. Speculum white and black. Voice: Soft high-pitched quack.
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American Wigeon (Baldpate)
Male - Winter
Body: Medium sized duck, 1 1/2 - 2 pounds, 18-20
inches long. Pinkish brown back and sides. White belly. Crown white or
buffy. Glossy green eye-mask. Bill short, grayish blue with black tip
and base. Feet grayish blue.Wings: Greater and middle coverts form white shoulder. Speculum glossy green shading to black. Voice: Whistle repeated in threes. In Flight: White belly. White wing-shoulder. White head-crown and black rump evident.
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American Wigeon (Baldpate)
Male - Fall
Ranging in appearance from mottled pinkish brown over back and
sides to blotchy near-winter coloration. Crown and eye-mask faintly
evident. Bill, feet and wings same as in winter.
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American Wigeon (Baldpate)
Female - All Seasons
Body: Mottled brown. Distinct white belly. Head
grayish with dark speckles. Short grayish blue bill with dark tip. Feet
grayish blue. Wings: Lesser, middle and greater coverts brownish, edged distinctively in white. Speculum dull greenish black. Voice: Qua-awk.
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Shoveler
Male - Winter
Body: Medium-sized duck, 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 pounds,
18-20 inches long. Rich cinnamon belly. White chest and tail. Head
iridescent green. Bill black, long, broad and spoon-shaped. Eyes
yellow. Feet orange. Wings: Lesser and middle coverts
sky blue; greater coverts form distinct white bar. Speculum iridescent
green. Central shaft of primaries distinctively white. Voice: Silent or weak took-took In Flight: Spoon-shaped bill and head appear large and carried low. White chest contrasts with cinnamon belly.
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Shoveler
Male - Fall
Ranging from mottled dull gray-brown to near-winter coloration.
Belly and sides usually retain some cinnamon. Tail dusky white. Bill
remains dark with tinge of orange. Eyes, feet and wings same as in
winter.
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Shoveler
Female - All Seasons
Body: Mottled drab brown. Bill large,
spoon-shaped and orangish green, usually with black spots. Tail dusky
white. Feet bright orange. Wings: Lesser and middle
coverts brownish, tinged with sky blue; greater coverts form distinct
white bar. Speculum subdued green. Central shaft of primaries
distinctively white. Voice: Feeble quack.
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Wood Duck
Male - Winter
Body: Medium-sized duck, up to 1 1/2 pounds,
15-18 inches long. Dark iridescence showing white flecking on cinnamon
chest. Sides vermiculated tan. Belly white. Head-crest with distinct
white stripes. Eyes red. Short multicolored bill. Feet dull gold. Wings: Coverts and speculum iridescent green, purple and blue. White bar on trailing edge of speculum. Silver-edged primaries. Voice: Plaintive squeal In Flight: Large head held high. White belly. Large square tail evident.
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Wood Duck
Male - Fall
Ranging from blotchy dull coloration to near-winter plumage. Belly,
throat and chin whitish. Eyes, feet, bill and wings same as in winter.
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Wood Duck
Female - All Seasons
Body: Drab brown. Belly white. Back showing
iridescent bronze. Chest and sides with white flecking. Head with crest
and distinct comet-shaped white eye-ring. Bill dusky black with traces
of orange. Feet dull gold. Wings: Similar to male but speculum with teardrop-shaped white trailing edge. Voice: Variety of whistles. |
Green-Winged Teal
Male - Winter
Body: Smallest of puddle ducks, about 3/4 pound
up to 14 inches long. Grayish with much vermiculation. Chest tan with
dark spots. Belly white. White vertical bar on sides. Head cinnamon
with iridescent green eye-mask. Bill and feet grayish black. Wings: Mostly brown with iridescent green and black speculum. Voice: Twittering whistle. In Flight: Very small. Flight swift and erratic. Males show white belly opposed to dark belly on Blue-wing and Cinnamon Teal. |
Green-Winged Teal
Male - Fall
Ranging from mottled brown to near-winter coloration. Belly white.
Head may have traces of green and cinnamon. Bill, feet and wings same
as in winter. |
Green-Winged Teal
Female - All Seasons
Body: Mottled brown with white belly. Bill grayish black with small black spots. Feet and wings similar to male. Voice: High-pitched quack. |
Blue-Winged Teal
Male - Winter
Body: Small duck, less than 1 pound, 12-16
inches long. Pale grayish cinnamon with numerous black spots. Head
purplish with distict white crescent. White spot on flank. Bill black.
Feet dull gold. Wings: Lesser and middle coverts sky blue; greater coverts form distinct white bar. Speculum green. Voice: Whistling peep. In Flight: Small erratic flyer. Blue wing-patch and white crescent visible up close.
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Blue-Winged Teal
Male - Fall
Ranging from mottled dull brown to near-winter coloration. Bill, feet and wings same as in winter.
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Blue-Winged Teal
Female - All Seasons
Body: Mottled brown with white belly. Head somewhat lighter brown. Bill grayish black with black spots. Feet dull greenish yellow. Wings: Similar to male except white bar blotched with gray. Voice: High-pitched quack. |
Cinnamon Teal
Body: Male has a Cinnamon body, Female drab brown . Wings: Wing
identical to male Blue-wing. In fall the male Cinnamon Teal is similar
to the male Blue-wing except with blotches of cinnamon. The female
Cinnamon Teal cannot be distinguished from female Blue-wing. Note: Rare east of the Rocky Mountains. |
Fulvous Tree Duck (Mexican Squealer)
Male & Female are Identical
Body: Medium-sized duck, up to 2 pounds, 18-22
inches long. Light cinnamon with dark back. Very long neck. Short dark
tail with white upper- and undertail coverts. Bill bluish black. Long
bluish gray legs. Wings: Lesser and middle coverts cinnamon; remainder dusky black. Voice: High-pitched whistling ka-tee. In Flight: Long legs extend behind body. Note: Restricted to South Texas, Southwest Arizona, California and Mexico. |
Black-Bellied Tree Duck (Pe-che-che-ne Duck)
Male & Female are Identical
Body: Medium-sized duck, up to 2 pounds, 18-22
inches long. Light cinnamon chest and lower neck with distinct black
belly. Sides of head ashy gray. Bill bright pink. Long pinkish legs. Wings: Lesser, middle, greater and primary coverts white. Voice: Shrill whistling pe-che-che-ne. In Flight: Long legs extend behind body. Black belly evident. Note: Restricted to South Texas and Mexico. |
American Coot (Mud Hen, Poule D'Eau)
Male & Female are Identical
Body: Medium-sized water bird not belonging to
duck family but found in close association. Sooty gray with somewhat
darker head, back and wings. White undertail coverts. Feet with lobed
toes and sharp claws. Bill whitish or ivory with red markings. Eyes
red. Wings: Overall sooty gray. Secondaries tipped with white. Voice: Quarrelsome high-pitched twittering. In Flight: Dark body contrasts with white bill and undertail coverts. Strong but reluctant flyer. |
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