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Ducks (from Microsoft Encarta) Eight tribes of duck use their webbed feet to paddle quickly and powerfully through watery worldwide habitats. Ducks feed on a variety of plants and animals, including algae and other aquatic plants, roots, seeds, grain, acorns, small fruits, aquatic insect larvae, adult insects, small crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. Their bills reflect their feeding habits; diving ducks have narrow bills with sharp, serrated edges to grasp fish, while dabbling ducks have wide bills for bottom feeding. Ducks also use these bills to waterproof their feathers, spreading a waxy secretion on the surface. Though an inner layer of down feathers provides added insulation from cold and wet during breeding season, many ducks migrate to warmer water in the winter.
Experts disagree about the classification of ducks into subfamilies and tribes, but the hundred or so species include a number of obvious groups. Most familiar are the dabbling or surface-feeding ducks, which include the mallard, ancestor of most domestic ducks. Members of this group live primarily on fresh water, where they glean plants and small aquatic animals from the surface or from shallow bottoms that they can reach without diving. The pochards, including the canvasback, nest on fresh water, but winter, often in very large flocks, both on inland lakes and along the coasts; they feed by diving. Another group of diving ducks, including the goldeneyes and the bufflehead, nest in tree holes. The mergansers are specialized for catching fish; the edges of their bills have sharp, toothlike serrations for holding slippery prey. Most marine of the North American ducks are the eiders and scoters, which nest in the far north and winter predominantly at sea.
DOMESTIC DUCKS
All except one breed of domestic duck are derived from the mallard, originally tamed in Eurasia. The exception is the muscovy duck, a large species of the American tropics. Wild muscovies are mostly black, but the commonest domestic variety is white, with knobby, naked red skin around the face and bill. It and the turkey are the only domestic birds that originated in the Americas.
Scientific classification: Ducks belong to the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes. The wood duck is classified as Aix sponsa, the spectacled eider as Somateria fischeri, and the blue-winged teal as Anas discors. The mallard is classified as Anas platyrhynchos and the muscovy duck as Cairina moschata. 1
Gadwall, common name for a large, mainly freshwater duck, native to North America, Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. Males have brownish heads, grayish bodies, dark bills, and yellow feet. The females are a mottled brown. Both sexes of the gadwall have a white speculum, or wing patch. Although normally a surface-feeding bird and therefore almost entirely herbivorous, the gadwall often dives for its food underwater. In North America it nests mainly in western and central regions, although it has spread east in recent years, and winters principally in the lower Mississippi Valley and Mexico. The gadwall frequently associates with the American wigeon and pintail. Scientific classification: The gadwall belongs to the family Anatidae. It is classified as Anas strepera.
Teal, common name applied to certain small, freshwater ducks. The name is based on size rather than on relationships, so that several quite different groups of small ducks are called teal. In Britain the name signifies a species of which the American subspecies is called the common, or green-winged, teal. At 35 cm (14 in), it is the smallest North American duck. The male's brown head is slightly crested, and has a green patch from the eye to the nape. Both sexes have a green patch or speculum on the back edge of the wing. The other North American ducks called teal belong to a group called the blue-winged ducks, as all have a large light-blue or blue-gray patch on the front side of the wing. The blue-winged teal is found over most of North America from Alaska eastward in summer, and migrates as far as South America in winter. Males have a dark-bluish head with a distinctive white crescent from forehead to chin. A close relative, the cinnamon teal, breeds from western North America to South America. Males are a rich dark-chestnut color. The nearest relatives of these two are the several species of shoveler and the garganey of Eurasia.
Scientific classification: Teals belong to the family Anatidae of the order Anseriformes. The common, or green-winged, teal is classified as Anas crecca; the blue-winged teal as Anas discors; the cinnamon teal as Anas cyanoptera; and the garganey as Anas querquedula. 3
Wood Duck, common name for a colorful duck found in southern Canada, the eastern and northwestern United States, and Mexico. It lives in diverse freshwater habitats including woodland ponds, swamps, marshes, lakes, slow moving rivers, and forested wetlands. The northernmost populations migrate south in the winter.
The wood duck has a short neck and a long square tail and ranges from 43 to 51 cm (17 to 24 in) in length. Its colors are among the most beautiful of North American birds. The male's plumage includes a burgundy red chest and neck and an iridescent green back. He has red eyes and a dark head striped with unusual patterns of white. His downwardly angled beak has patterns of yellow, black, red, and white. The female has white eye patches and is not as colorful as the male, however, she is more colorful than females of other duck species. The juvenile plumage is similar to that of the female.
The diet of the wood duck varies by season but mostly consists of seeds from aquatic plants. In the fall and winter it feeds on plant materials, including wild rice, pond weeds, and acorns. In spring and summer it feeds on insects such as beetles, mayflies, and locusts, and also snails, tadpoles, crustaceans, small fish, and amphibians. It forages while swimming in shallow water or while walking on the ground.
The male shows off his colorful plumage during courtship. The wood duck is one of the only ducks that typically nests in a tree hole. It will also readily use human-made wooden shelters, called nest boxes. Male wood ducks do not participate in the nesting or in the rearing of the young. After mating, the male migrates to a separate area to molt into new feathers. During this time he becomes flightless and has to hide from predators. The female goes through her molt after rearing the young.
The female wood duck lines the nest hole using her own down feathers. She incubates, or warms, the 9 to 15 dull white eggs by sitting on them for 25 to 35 days until they hatch. The morning after hatching, the young ducklings climb out of the nest hole and leap to the ground. The female continues to care for them for five to six weeks. The young first fly about eight to nine weeks after hatching.
During the early 1900s, overhunting and destruction of nesting sites drove the wood duck almost to extinction. Beginning in 1918, protective laws were enacted that helped the population to recover. The widespread construction of nest boxes also helped in the recovery. The wood duck population is currently strong but vulnerable to loss of its remaining habitat.
Scientific classification: The wood duck is a member of the duck family, Anatidae, in the order Anseriformes, and is classified as Aix sponsa. 4
Buchanan County Bird Club
We see a lot of sites but believe us, this one is exceptional, so exceptional that we are using it to lead all bird sections. You will never see so many beautiful bird pictures in on placeAlan's Duck Hunting Pages
photos of the 97-98 season and the hard working bird dogs.American Waterfowler
Delta Duck Hunter
News and information about Duck Hunting in the Mississippi DeltaDuck Callers Association of Nebraska
provides increased awareness of natural resources conservation, hunters ethics and waterfowl calling techniques: includes a library of duck calls.
The Duck Hunters Handbook
A wonderful reference
Ducks of the World
A source of identification for ducks from all over the world
Duck Hunting Refuge
Offers duck hunting links, information and chat forums.
Duckhunter
features include guide services, recipes, hunters, and products.Ducks Unlimited
The premier Foundation for Waterfowl Protection and Conservation of out vital wetlands and other natural resourcesFederal Duck Stamp Program
revenues collected from stamp sales are used to purchase wetlands and wildlife habitat for inclusion into the National Wildlife Refuge System.Handicapped Accessible Duck Blind Design
shows framework construction of a typical above ground duck blind from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.Hunt Arkansas
source for Arkansas waterfowl Hunting Society, including field reports and guide services.Internet Waterfowlers Association
IWA's mission is to raise money for various waterfowl related projects.Shelducks of the World
>This is a marvelous public service site devoted to Sheldrake information, care and identification. We recommend it highly as must reading for any duck hunterSmart Hunter Home
>Your Duck Hunting Tips
Southern Duck Hunter
Resources include season schedules, duck identification illustrations, audio clips with calls, field reports, and gear.Southern Land Company
Hunting Properties for sale and lease throughout the deep southTeach Me, Please
>Two Video Training Course-Package Includes Videos, Cassettes, Workbooks, and More
True Geese of the World: The Anser Species
>Identification
True Geese of the World: The Branta Species
> Identification
Waterfowl Refuge
Offers information on decoys, duck and goose calls, guides and outfitters. Also has a message board for hunters.Waterfowl Resource
features include articles, sounds, recipes, and access to listserv.Waterfowler.com
Duck and goose Hunting Sservice with migration reports, state regulations, message forums, and hunting exchange programs.Western Wings Shooter
> A great Public Service site put up by a hunter to help other hunters. Their primary goal is to promote conservation, safety, and of course a successful trip into the field for all of us out west.
Wildwings.net
>An online store featuring wildfowl art and furnishings
North Alabama Waterfowler
A forum and links for waterfowlers in northern AlabamaAlabama
>Webbed Feet
Arkansas
>Arkansas Waterfowl Connection
Arkansas
>Hunt Arkansas
Indiana, Knox
>Raghorn News
>Duck Hunting & Other Information for hunters
Florida
> Wood Duck hunting on beautiful Lake George in Georgetown Florida.Louisiana
>Paradise Brokerage
Michigan, Onatario
>Lake St. Clair Waterfowler
Mississippi, Delta
>MSDucks.com
Southern Land Company
>Duck hunting properties throughout the deep south
Southern United States
>Southern Duck Hunter
Waterfowl of Chenoa
> University of Tennessee Duck & Geese Study and Field Trips Available
Bobby Smith's - Custom Duck and Goose Calls: hand made and tuned one at a time; These are single reed calls, double reed calls available when ordering designs and manufactures Duck Head Duck Calls and Goose Head Goose Calls, our duck calls look like a duck and our goose calls look like a goose.
Mallard Duck Calls
Drake- Brake
Duck Calls
Duckall
Duck Calls
Duck Commander Products
Duck Calls
Duckman
Duck Calls
Echo Championship
Duck Calls
Greg Keats
Custom Calls
Pro Waterfowl
An online store featuring Duck and Goose calls, Decoys, Blinds, gun cases and more.Quaker Boy
Game Calls
Rick's
Antique Duck Calls
Roy Rhodes
Championship Duck s
>Duck Calls
Sean Mann Outdoor Products
Southern Game
Duck Calls
Timber
Mallard Duck Calls
