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Female Ducks Identification

Female Ducks photos

This page contains many species of female duck, where the female differs from the male.



Female ducks generally have a dull brownish plumage which helps them become less conspicuous by blending into the background. The Male (drake) has a bright colourful plumage in the breeding season to attract a mate but often looks more like the female (Duck) when it moults after the start of the non-breeding season and gains its eclipse plumage. Some species of female ducks, particularly the South American ducks, have the same colour plumage as the male.

Below are a selection of female ducks which have a different colour plumage or eye-colour to that of the male and may be helpful in identifying various species of duck.

Click on the Duck photographs to enlarge them or if you click on the Duck's name then it will take you to another page with information, more photos, and sometimes a video of that particular Duck.


Falcated Duck

(Anas Falcata)
Photo: Dave Key

Gadwall

(Anas Strepera)
Photo: Dave Key

Garganey

(Anas Querquedula)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard

(Anas Platyrhynchos)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail

(Anas Acuta)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shoveler

(Anas Rhynchotis)
Photo: Dave Key

Cape Shoveler

(Anas Smithii)

Northern Shoveler

(Anas Clypeata)
Photo: Dave Key

Red Shoveler

(Anas Platalea)
Photo: Dave Key

Blue-winged Teal

(Anas Discors)
Photo: Dave Key

Chestnut Teal

(Anas Castanea)

Cinnamon Teal

(Anas Cyanoptera)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal

(Anas Crecca)
Photo: Nigel Key

American Wigeon

(Anas Americana)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Wigeon

(Anas Penelope)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback

(Aythya Valisineria)
Photo: Dave Key

Ferruginous Duck

(Aythya Nyroca)
Photo: Dave Key

Hardhead

(Aythya Australis)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Pochard

(Aythya Ferina)

Red-crested Pochard

(Netta Rufina)
Photo: Dave Key

Southern Pochard

(Netta Erythrophthalma)
Photo: Dave Key

Ring-necked Duck

(Aythya Collaris)
Photo: Dave Key

Rosybill

(Vetta Peposaca)
Photo: Dave Key

Greater Scaup

(Aythya Marila)
photo by Dave Key

Lesser Scaup

(Aythya Affinis)
Photo: Dave Key

New Zealand Scaup

(Anas Novaeseelandiae)

Tufted Duck

(Aythya Fuligula)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck

(Aix Sponsa)
Photo: Dave Key

Brazilian Duck

(Amazonetta Brasiliensis)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin

(Aix Galericulata)
Photo: Dave Key

African Pygmy Goose

(Nettapus Auritus)
Photo: Dave Key

Cotton Pygmy Goose

(Nettapus Coromandelianus)

Australian Wood Duck

(Chenonetta Jubata)
Photo: Dave Key


Maccoa Duck

(Oxyura Maccoa)
Photo: Nigel Key



Ruddy Duck

(Oxyura Jamaicensis)

White-headed Duck

(Oxyura Leucocephalia)
Photo: Dave Key

Lake Duck

(Oxyura Vittata)
Photo: Dave Key

Musk Duck

(Biziura Lobata)

Bufflehead

(Bucephala Albeola)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider

(Somateria Mollissima)
Photo: Dave Key

King Eider

(Somateria Spectabilis)

Spectacled Eider

(Somateria Fischeri)

Steller's Eider

(Polysticta Stelleri)

Barrow's Goldeneye

(Bucephala Islandica)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye

(Bucephala Clangula)
Photo: Nigel Key

Long-tailed Duck

(Clangula Hyemalis)

Common Merganser

(Mergus Merganser)
Photo: Dave Key

Hooded Merganser

(Lophodytes Cucullatus)
Photo: Nigel Key

Red-breasted Merganser

(Mergus Serrator)

Scaly-sided Merganser

(Mergus Squamatus)

Surf Scoter

(Melanitta Perspicillata)

Smew

(Mergellus Albellus)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shelduck

(Tadorna Tadornoides)
Photo: Dave Key

Paradise Shelduck

(Tadorna Variegata)

South African Shelduck

(Tadorna Cana)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard

(Aythya Baeri)
Photo: Dave Key

Redhead

(Aythya Americana)
Photo: Dave Key

Falcated Duck

(Anas Falcata)
Photo: Dave Key

Gadwall

(Anas Strepera)
Photo: Dave Key

Garganey

(Anas Querquedula)
Photo: Dave Key

Mallard

(Anas Platyrhynchos)
Photo: Dave Key

Northern Pintail

(Anas Acuta)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shoveler

(Anas Rhynchotis)
Photo: Dave Key

Cape Shoveler

(Anas Smithii)

Northern Shoveler

(Anas Clypeata)
Photo: Dave Key

Red Shoveler

(Anas Platalea)
Photo: Dave Key

Blue-winged Teal

(Anas Discors)
Photo: Dave Key

Chestnut Teal

(Anas Castanea)

Cinnamon Teal

(Anas Cyanoptera)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Teal

(Anas Crecca)
Photo: Nigel Key

American Wigeon

(Anas Americana)
Photo: Dave Key

Eurasian Wigeon

(Anas Penelope)
Photo: Dave Key

Canvasback

(Aythya Valisineria)
Photo: Dave Key

Ferruginous Duck

(Aythya Nyroca)
Photo: Dave Key

Hardhead

(Aythya Australis)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Pochard

(Aythya Ferina)

Red-crested Pochard

(Netta Rufina)
Photo: Dave Key

Southern Pochard

(Netta Erythrophthalma)
Photo: Dave Key

Ring-necked Duck

(Aythya Collaris)
Photo: Dave Key

Rosybill

(Vetta Peposaca)
Photo: Dave Key

Greater Scaup

(Aythya Marila)
photo by Dave Key

Lesser Scaup

(Aythya Affinis)
Photo: Dave Key

New Zealand Scaup

(Anas Novaeseelandiae)

Tufted Duck

(Aythya Fuligula)
Photo: Dave Key

American Wood Duck

(Aix Sponsa)
Photo: Dave Key

Brazilian Duck

(Amazonetta Brasiliensis)
Photo: Dave Key

Mandarin

(Aix Galericulata)
Photo: Dave Key

African Pygmy Goose

(Nettapus Auritus)
Photo: Dave Key

Cotton Pygmy Goose

(Nettapus Coromandelianus)

Australian Wood Duck

(Chenonetta Jubata)
Photo: Dave Key


Maccoa Duck

(Oxyura Maccoa)
Photo: Nigel Key



Ruddy Duck

(Oxyura Jamaicensis)

White-headed Duck

(Oxyura Leucocephalia)
Photo: Dave Key

Lake Duck

(Oxyura Vittata)
Photo: Dave Key

Musk Duck

(Biziura Lobata)

Bufflehead

(Bucephala Albeola)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Eider

(Somateria Mollissima)
Photo: Dave Key

King Eider

(Somateria Spectabilis)

Spectacled Eider

(Somateria Fischeri)

Steller's Eider

(Polysticta Stelleri)

Barrow's Goldeneye

(Bucephala Islandica)
Photo: Dave Key

Common Goldeneye

(Bucephala Clangula)
Photo: Nigel Key

Long-tailed Duck

(Clangula Hyemalis)

Common Merganser

(Mergus Merganser)
Photo: Dave Key

Hooded Merganser

(Lophodytes Cucullatus)
Photo: Nigel Key

Red-breasted Merganser

(Mergus Serrator)

Scaly-sided Merganser

(Mergus Squamatus)

Surf Scoter

(Melanitta Perspicillata)

Smew

(Mergellus Albellus)
Photo: Dave Key

Australian Shelduck

(Tadorna Tadornoides)
Photo: Dave Key

Paradise Shelduck

(Tadorna Variegata)

South African Shelduck

(Tadorna Cana)
Photo: Dave Key

Baer's Pochard

(Aythya Baeri)
Photo: Dave Key

Redhead

(Aythya Americana)
Photo: Dave Key

Click on the Duck photographs to enlarge them or if you click on the Duck's name then it will take you to another page with information, more photos, and sometimes a video of that particular Duck.




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