Watchable Waterfowl
|
Because waterfowl are so visible and fairly easy to identify they offer a great starting point for beginning birders. Identification is generally straightforward because of bold patterns and colors, yet there's some challenge with female and juvenile plumages. Most waterfowl show field marks that are visible from long distances such as prominent markings on the head or body. Drake Blue-winged Teal, for example, have large white crescents in front of their eyes. Drake Northern Shovlers' white breasts and rufous sides are unique. Surf Scoters and Ring-necked Ducks have colorful, distinctively patterned bills. Once in flight, waterfowl can be more of a challenge, but with a good field guide and some practice they too can be readily identified. Many ducks show a bold area of color on the upper surface of the wing called the speculum, which is made up of the ten or eleven secondary feathers. The speculum of a mallard, for example, is irridescent blue bordered by black and white. In some species, such as American Wigeon and King Eider, the males have white lesser and median covert feathers. These create large white patches on the front upper surface of the wings. These features, plus many other fieldmarks, are illustrated in most field guides. |
Identification is generally straightforward because of bold patterns and colors. |
|
Other clues to identification include shape, wing beat speed, flock size, vocalization, and habitat. For instance, even at considerable distances it is apparent that swans have much longer necks than geese. Drake Oldsquaws and Northern Pintails have long central tail feathers. Diving ducks, such as scaup, generally have faster wingbeats than dabblers such as Mallards. Most divers have to run along the water's surface in order to take flight, whereas dabblers spring straight up. A flock of Wood Ducks numbering over a dozen birds is rare, while some flocks of other species may hold hundreds or thousands. The honking of Canada Geese and quacks of hen Mallards are familiar sounds to everyone, but many species whistle, purr, croak and peep. Habitat also plays a tremendous role in determining which species a birder might see. Rocky coasts and open ocean are the domain of eiders and other seaducks, while shallow marshes and agricultural areas attract geese and dabbling ducks. [ Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 ] |
|
