Waterfowl Identification Guide

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 54487 *** WATERFOWL IDENTIFICATION GUIDE Published by The Central Flyway Council COUNCIL MEMBERS Colorado Kansas Montana Nebraska New Mexico North Dakota Oklahoma South Dakota Texas Wyoming Acknowledgments The Central Flyway Council wishes to thank the Atlantic Flyway Council for making available the illustrations and most of the text of this booklet. The Council also wishes to thank the many persons who assisted in preparation of this publication, particularly the Vermont Fish and Game Commission and Alan R. Munro, the artist. PRINTED IN U.S.A. BY THE LANE PRESS. INC. · BURLINGTON, VERMONT CONTENTS Council Members 1 Acknowledgements 2 Foreword 5 Identification 6 Individual Problems 7 Nonhunting Enjoyments 8 Research and Management 8 Flyway Council Approach 9 Your Responsibility 10 Parts of a Duck 11 Whistling Swan 12 Canada Goose 13 Snow Goose 14 Ross Goose 15 White-Fronted Goose 16 Blue Goose 17 Puddle or Dabbling Duck Characteristics 18 Mallard 19 Black Duck 20 Mottled Duck 21 New Mexico Duck 22 Gadwall 23 Pintail 24 Green-Winged Teal 25 Blue-Winged Teal 26 Cinnamon Teal 27 American Widgeon 28 Shoveler 29 Wood Duck 30 Harlequin Duck 31 Diving Duck Characteristics 32 Redhead 33 Ring-Necked Duck 34 Canvasback 35 Greater Scaup 36 Lesser Scaup 37 Common Goldeneye 38 Barrow’s Goldeneye 39 Bufflehead 40 White-Winged Scoter 41 Fulvous Tree Duck 42 Black-Bellied Tree Duck 43 Ruddy Duck 44 Hooded Merganser 45 Common Merganser 46 Double-Crested Cormorant 47 Common Loon 48 Horned Grebe 49 Pied-Billed Grebe 49 Western Grebe 50 American Coot 51 King Rail 52 Clapper Rail 52 Virginia Rail 53 Sora 53 Common Snipe (Jacksnipe) 54 Waterfowler’s Code 55 FOREWORD The North American continent, at the time of its discovery and early settlement, had a waterfowl population which was one of its many wonders. So far as the evidence shows, no equal area of the earth’s surface ever supported such vast numbers of so many different ducks and geese, and this situation persisted to a time within the memory of living men. Long after the end of early settlement on this continent, hunting was free and harvest unlimited. But as the advancing tide of settlement reached into the north-central prairie states and provinces in the final years of the Nineteenth Century, radical changes began. From that time on North American waterfowl habitat began to deteriorate. Literally millions of acres of former nesting ground in the north have now been drained and put to the plow. South of the breeding range, not only agriculture, but industrialization and urbanization also have steadily reduced available resting and wintering grounds. The progressive decline in waterfowl numbers which followed these changes in land use led eventually to the scientific management of waterfowl. Spring shooting and market hunting were abolished in the second decade of this century. Ten years later the federal government undertook detailed regulation of migratory waterfowl so the annual harvest could be made proportional to the annual production. This was accomplished through collective effort by State, Provincial and Federal agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States to obtain scientific information. In keeping with biological principles, most of the restrictions on bag limit and means of taking have been used with some flexibility. Throughout the decline of all waterfowl populations some species have been underharvested. These species have declined in about the same proportion as those species on which the bulk of the harvest occurred. The Central Flyway Council feels that a refinement in waterfowl management is possible by directing hunting pressure on these previously underharvested species. This goal can only be accomplished through a knowledge of species identification by the waterfowl hunter. This booklet is a start in that direction. In recent years most waterfowl populations have made encouraging recoveries from the low point of the early 1930’s, when disastrous drouths, drainage and changing land use patterns took their toll. Still drainage continues, and industrialization is further reducing the habitat. Hunting continues as a major sport, however, maximum utilization of all species must be accomplished if hunting is to be fostered at a reasonable level of freedom and enjoyment. The very future of duck hunting depends upon a more effective partnership between regulatory agencies and the many thousands of gunners whom they serve. The federal agency is charged by treaty and law with husbandry of the waterfowl resource. The State agencies assist in the responsibility. However, they need the help of all sportsmen, and particularly they need the understanding help of waterfowlers who know their birds and who keep abreast of current plans for management. To foster this essential cooperation between agencies and gunners is a primary purpose of this booklet. Identification Identification of birds in the field, and particularly on the wing, as ducks and geese are usually seen over decoys, is easier than appears at first try. The trick is to note, in addition to shape and approximate size, the general arrangement of light and dark areas in the plumage, for nearly every species has its own distinctive pattern. With practice, the eye can be trained to pick out this pattern at a glance, and within a short time recognition becomes automatic. The illustrations which follow, one for each important species of Central Flyway waterfowl, make use of this practice of “pattern recognition” in the two or more flying birds at the top of the page. Actually in many cases recognition by flight pattern and flight characteristics will soon become evident. In each drawing of ducks the flying female leads, with the drake following, for this is the usual order in a mated pair during winter, and spring. On the lower part of each page are shown enlarged heads, adult male on the left, female on the right, with an immature head added when the difference is substantial, or with certain details which further aid identification when the bird is in hand. All ducks, both flying pairs and heads, are drawn in direct proportion to each other, but geese, because of their larger size, are reduced one third from the duck proportion. Drawings of geese show only a single enlarged head on each plate because male and female geese are alike in color pattern. Finally, some birds which are not “waterfowl” in the strict sense of the word, but are nevertheless often seen, are shown in the last few illustrations. Some of them (loon, grebe, and cormorant), although protected at all times, are included because they are often mistakenly shot for waterfowl. Others (rails, coot, and snipes) are included because they occupy wet-land habitat along with ducks. Individual Problems Although “pattern recognition” simplifies the problem of identification for the waterfowler, there are still several complications to be considered. Of these, the most troublesome by far is the matter of moults. The adult drakes of most species of ducks, very soon after the hens begin to incubate eggs, moult the bright body-feathers of their breeding dress and assume an “eclipse” plumage which resembles the year-round coloration of the female. This dull plumage, serving as a protective factor during the wing-moult which follows, is retained until the new flight feathers are fully developed. By September a second body-moult is under way by which these old drakes assume the bright courting plumage of late fall and winter. During the same period, the young males of the year, whose juvenile plumage likewise resembles the female dress, are also assuming the adult plumage. Following December 1 most difficulties of identification by reason of the moult are resolved, but in early fall the hunter may be puzzled by some of the transition plumages noted on birds in his bag. Identification during this period may appear extremely difficult, but it is well to remember that wing patterns remain virtually unchanged regardless of stage of the moult. The remaining problems of identification require only brief mention for they appear but rarely. In the first place, this booklet includes all species of ducks and geese which occur in numbers in any part of the Central Flyway, but omits others which may be occasional visitors. Second, hybrids are rather frequent among waterfowl, and some are extremely puzzling. In such special cases as these your local wildlife manager or biologist may be able to help. The following publications contain further information for the hunter interested in additional facts of natural history, distribution and description: Kortright, “Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America” Peterson, “A Field Guide to the Birds” Pough, “Audubon Water Bird Guide” Nonhunting Enjoyments For the nonhunter—and many avid outdoorsmen prefer to watch rather than shoot—this guide to waterfowl can provide enjoyment beyond the simple pleasure of seeing ducks and geese. Most of us remember seeing some “oldtimer” identify flights or singles or rafts of birds at what seemed impossible distances. The ability to do this does not really stem from some mystic communion with the birds. Rather, through such a booklet as this the waterfowling layman can develop the same powers in himself. For the cost of a little concentrated effort he can gain great personal satisfaction and the increased understanding that comes from resolving “ducks” into the wide variety of individual species they really are. Further, some knowledge of waterfowl distribution, annual abundance and the approximate source and destination of the ducks and geese he hunts, will often help the waterfowler understand the overall picture of waterfowl management. For both administrative and biological purposes of waterfowl management, the United States is divided into four flyways—the Atlantic, the Mississippi, the Pacific, and the one for which this booklet is written, the Central. Each flyway has its own segment of the waterfowl population, subject to different conditions and pressures than the populations of other flyways, and therefore is administered as a separate unit. In general this is a sound premise, but it must not be considered too rigid. Since the flyway principle is in part an administrative device, it is important principally in fall and winter when most North American waterfowl are within the United States. As the wintering populations begin to move northward in the spring, many species disperse throughout the nesting grounds of the northern states and Canada. Much overlapping of the populations from various flyways in which the birds wintered occurs. Research and Management Methods developed over the years and applied systematically supply information which is necessary to intelligent management. Breeding pair and brood surveys indicate the distribution of nesting populations, and their success from year to year in hatching and raising their broods of young. The banding of waterfowl, carefully aged, sexed, and released, gives specific information on the travels of individual birds, on mortality, and on some phases of hunting pressure. Periodic air-counts in late summer and fall serve to measure, in a rough way, the distribution of different species during southward migration, and the rate of movement. Hunter-bag checks, carried out in the field during the shooting season, complement fall counts with regard to distribution at given points. A post-season sampling of hunter success, by mail, supplies data on additional aspects of hunting pressure, and gives an index of total kill. Finally, the annual winter count indicates the distribution and relative size of populations remaining after the shooting season ends. In combination, these methods are steadily increasing our knowledge of North American waterfowl, and in particular are providing the sort of “running inventory” which is the first requirement for intelligent management of this resource. The Central Flyway Council is the clearing house for coordinated planning in this Flyway. It is a delegate organization, including in its membership administrative and technical representatives from the fish and game departments of all states and provinces in the flyway. A Flyway Representative has been assigned from the Fish and Wildlife Service. This group is concerned with all phases of waterfowl research and management in the flyway. The Central Flyway Council provides for an effective interchange of information between member agencies and assists in the coordination and integration of flyway management programs. These purposes have been furthered by regular meetings for the open discussion of flyway problems. Flyway Council Approach In early 1953, the Council and the Fish and Wildlife Service, acting jointly, adopted a flyway program which has been expanded and improved as factual information and experience dictate. This program outlines objectives and suggests methods and priorities for accomplishment. State game departments now pattern their activities around the flyway program. Extending the cooperative idea, the Council has joined with corresponding organizations from the other flyways to form the National Waterfowl Council, which annually participates in the official discussion of continental and flyway management problems and regulations. From their inception, the flyway councils have been successful in promoting understanding and teamwork so necessary for the perpetuation of the waterfowl resource. Your Responsibility As an individual reader of this booklet, you have a part to play in the essential partnership between agencies and waterfowlers. Your part may be small and may take various forms, depending on the circumstances, but certainly it is there. Perhaps, having sent in one or two waterfowl bands in the past and having experienced the initial novelty of hearing where your birds came from, you now forget to report them. The next time you have this choice between reporting or forgetting a band, remember that its prompt recovery, with full data, might be the clue to some missing fact to improve your future gunning. Hunter bag checks indicate crippling losses in the Central Flyway run to an average of about one quarter of the total kill. In certain marshes, early in the season, crippling can greatly exceed the one quarter loss. Shooting at birds on the fringe of effective killing range is a crippling practice and, moreover, as you probably know from observation is contagious. The usual effect of one “sky shooter” in a marsh is to force other gunners nearby to attempt impossible shots which increase crippling losses and soon ruin shooting for everybody. Controlling such practices lies solely in the hands of individual gunners. With large-gauge guns of modified bore, the shot-pattern that will produce kills should be consistent up to forty yards, a distance well within capabilities of the average gunner to hold and compute necessary lead. Successful duck shooting is a matter of good judgment. To avoid errors in judgment drive stakes in front of your blind at distances of thirty and forty yards to indicate safe killing range. Hold your fire until the feet of an incoming duck can be seen distinctly, for only then will the bird be in range. Good sportsmanship in duck blinds and marshes is equally as important as remaining friendly with your home neighbors. Train a good retrieving dog, and add to your day’s pleasure by watching him at work on downed birds. Above all, remember that the future of waterfowling is partly in your hands—that your good sportsmanship and cooperation are as necessary to the work of the Central Flyway Council and its member agencies as their activities are to you. PARTS OF A DUCK [Illustration: PARTS OF A DUCK] CROWN FOREHEAD OCCIPUT CHEEK NAPE SIDE NECK BACK SCAPULARS RUMP CHIN THROAT FORENECK TERTIALS UPPER TAIL COVERTS BREAST TAIL UNDER TAIL COVERTS BELLY SIDE LESSER COVERTS SPURIOUS WING GREATER COVERTS PRIMARIES SECONDARIES TERTIALS TIBIA SCUTELLATE TARSUS HEEL HIND TOE TOE WEB NAIL LAMELLAE LOWER MANDIBLE UPPER MANDIBLE NOSTRIL NAIL MALE FEMALE WHISTLING SWAN (Cygnus columbianus) [Illustration: WHISTLING SWAN (Cygnus columbianus)] ENTIRE PLUMAGE WHITE IMMATURE BIRDS HAVE GRAY-WHITE PLUMAGE WITH DULL PINKISH BILL YELLOW SPOT BLACK BILL SEXES ARE SIMILAR CARRIES NECK HELD ERECT HEAD OF MUTE SWAN SHOWING BLACK KNOB AND ORANGE BILL CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis) [Illustration: CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)] WHITE RUMP BROWNISH GRAY BODY AND WINGS BLACK BILL WHITE PATCH BLACK NECK ALL GEESE HAVE RETICULATE TARSUS SEXES ARE SIMILAR SNOW GOOSE (Chen hyperborea) [Illustration: SNOW GOOSE (Chen hyperborea)] WHITE BODY BLACK WING TIPS PINK FEET LIGHT PINK BILL BLACK “GRINNING” PATCH FEATHERS OF CHEEKS, BREAST AND BELLY OFTEN STAINED WITH RUSTY BROWN IMMATURE BIRDS TEND TOWARD A MORE GRAY PLUMAGE SEXES ARE SIMILAR ROSS GOOSE (Chen rossi) [Illustration: ROSS GOOSE (Chen rossi)] ABOUT SIZE OF MALLARD ADULT WARTY PROTUBERANCES ON BILL. NO BLACK “GRINNING” PATCH PINKISH BILL IMMATURE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons) [Illustration: WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Anser albifrons)] ADULT BARRED BELLY IMMATURE YELLOWISH BILL PALE BREAST WHITE PATCH BROWNISH FOREPARTS YELLOWISH LEGS BLUE GOOSE (Chen caerulescens) [Illustration: BLUE GOOSE (Chen caerulescens)] ADULT PINK FEET, IMMATURE DUSKY FEET IMMATURE PINK BILL WHITE NAIL BLACK “GRINNING” PATCH WHITE HEAD AND NECK SEXES ARE SIMILAR PUDDLE OR DABBLING DUCK CHARACTERISTICS (Anatinae) [Illustration: PUDDLE OR DABBLING DUCK CHARACTERISTICS (Anatinae)] TIP UP TO FEED, RARELY DIVE LEGS PLACED NEAR CENTER OF BODY GENERALLY HAVE METALLIC SPECULUM USUALLY SWIM WITH TAIL HELD CLEAR OF WATER FOOT SMALLER THAN IN DIVING DUCKS HIND TOE NOT LOBED SPRING INTO AIR ON TAKE OFF MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos) [Illustration: MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)] WHITE TAIL WHITE BORDERS ON PURPLE SPECULUM WHITISH TAIL ♂ GREEN HEAD YELLOW BILL WHITE COLLAR RUDDY BREAST ♀ ORANGE BILL MOTTLED WITH BLACK MOTTLED BROWN BLACK DUCK (Anas rubripes) [Illustration: BLACK DUCK (Anas rubripes)] YELLOWISH-BROWN HEAD DUSKY-BROWN BODY WHITE WING-LININGS IMMATURE HAS STREAKED BREAST PURPLE SPECULUM IMMATURE SIDE BREAST FEATHER ADULT MALE SIDE BREAST FEATHER ADULT FEMALE SIDE BREAST FEATHER ♂ BILL COLOR VARIES FROM SOLID GREENISH YELLOW TO HIGH CHROME YELLOW DEPENDING UPON AGE AND SEASON KILLED ♀ FEMALE BILL SHOWS VARYING AMOUNT OF BLACK SPOTTING MOTTLED DUCK (Anas fulvigula) [Illustration: MOTTLED DUCK (Anas fulvigula)] TRAILING EDGE OFTEN WHITE LIGHT TAN HEAD PURPLE SPECULUM FEET ORANGE CHIN AND THROAT PALE BUFF (WITH OR) WITHOUT STREAKING ♂ DARK BASE OF BILL BILL YELLOW, DARK NAIL ♀ DARK SPOT (often absent) VARIABLE SPOTTING NEW MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi novimexicana) [Illustration: NEW MEXICAN DUCK (Anas diazi novimexicana)] TAIL DARK. SPECULUM BLUISH PURPLE TO GREEN. WHITE EDGE ABOVE SOMETIMES ABSENT. FEET ORANGE. ♂ BILL YELLOW, DARK NAIL. CHIN PINKISH BUFF WITHOUT STREAKING. ♀ BILL DARK OLIVE OR ORANGE, DARK ON RIDGE. SMALL SPOTS NEAR BASE LIMITED OR ABSENT. GADWALL (Anas strepera) [Illustration: GADWALL (Anas strepera)] BLACK RUMP WHITE BELLY WHITE SPECULUM WHITE BELLY BOTH SEXES HAVE YELLOW FEET ♂ BILL BLUISH BLACK ♀ BILL DULL ORANGE VARYING SPOTTING PINTAIL (Anas acuta) [Illustration: PINTAIL (Anas acuta)] WHITE STRIPE CINNAMON-BUFF BORDER POINTED TAIL WHITE STRIPE ♂ BROWN HEAD GRAY BILL ♀ GRAY BILL MOTTLED BROWN GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas carolinensis) [Illustration: GREEN-WINGED TEAL (Anas carolinensis)] GREEN SPECULUM WHITE BELLY ♂ BROWN HEAD GREEN PATCH WHITE MARK ♀ BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors) [Illustration: BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)] CHALKY-BLUE PATCH GREEN SPECULUM ♂ MALE HAS DARK BELLY WHITE CRESCENT ♀ FEMALE HAS LIGHT BELLY CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera) [Illustration: CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)] CHALKY-BLUE PATCH GREEN SPECULUM ♂ UNIFORM CINNAMON BODY COLOR ♀ FEMALE HAS LIGHT BELLY AMERICAN WIDGEON (Baldpate) (Mareca americana) [Illustration: AMERICAN WIDGEON (Baldpate) (Mareca americana)] WHITE PATCH WHITE BELLY GREEN SPECULUM WHITE BORDER ♂ WHITE CROWN GREEN PATCH GRAY BILL, BLACK TIPPED WHITE PATCH ♀ SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata) [Illustration: SHOVELER (Spatula clypeata)] CHALKY-BLUE PATCH GREEN SPECULUM BORDERED WITH WHITE ♂ IRIDESCENT GREENISH BLACK LARGE SHOVEL BILL CONSPICUOUS BRISTLE-LIKE LAMELLAE WHITE BREAST CHESTNUT SIDES AND BELLY ♀ WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa) [Illustration: WOOD DUCK (Aix sponsa)] WHITE BORDER WHITE BELLY SILVERY BORDERED ♂ RED IRIS RED AND WHITE BILL ADULT MALE HIGHLY COLORED ECLIPSE AND IMMATURE MALE WHITE PATCH ♀ CONSPICUOUS WHITE EYE-RING CRESTED HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus) [Illustration: HARLEQUIN DUCK (Histrionicus histrionicus)] WHITE MARKS ♂ STOCKY, DARK, SMALL BILL ♀ FEMALE HAS SMALLER BILL PLAIN DARK BODY DIVING DUCK CHARACTERISTICS (Aythyinae) [Illustration: DIVING DUCK CHARACTERISTICS (Aythyinae)] LEGS SET NEAR REAR OF BODY DIVE COMPLETELY UNDER WATER TO SECURE FEED SPECULUM GENERALLY DULL, LACKS IRIDESCENCE USUALLY SWIM WITH TAIL HELD CLOSE TO WATER HIND TOE LOBED, FOOT LARGE ON TAKE OFF PATTER ALONG SURFACE FOR SOME DISTANCE REDHEAD (Aythya americana) [Illustration: REDHEAD (Aythya americana)] GRAY BACK GRAY WING STRIPE ♂ CHESTNUT HEAD HIGH ABRUPT FOREHEAD BLUE BILL, BLACK TIP BLACK BREAST ♀ LIGHT PATCH RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris) [Illustration: RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)] BLACK BACK GRAY WING STRIPE ♂ DISTINCT CREST CONSPICUOUS BILL RING CHESTNUT COLLAR BLACK BREAST WHITE PATCH ♀ WHITE EYE RING LIGHT PATCH CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria) [Illustration: CANVASBACK (Aythya valisineria)] WHITE BACK GRAY WING STRIPE ♂ CHESTNUT HEAD LONG SLOPING PROFILE, BLACK BILL BLACK BREAST ♀ GRAY BACK BROWN BREAST GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila) [Illustration: GREATER SCAUP (Aythya marila)] DARK RUMP WHITE WING STRIPE EXTENDING INTO PRIMARIES WHITE BELLY NAIL OF BILL 7.0-9.0 MILLIMETERS WIDE ♂ GRAY BACK BLACK HEAD WITH GREENISH TINGE BROAD BLUE BILL BLACK BREAST WHITE FLANKS ♀ BROWN BODY AND HEAD DISTINCT WHITE MASK LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis) [Illustration: LESSER SCAUP (Aythya affinis)] DARK RUMP WHITE WING STRIPE DOES NOT EXTEND INTO PRIMARIES WHITE BELLY NAIL OF BILL 5.0-6.5 MILLIMETERS WIDE ♂ SLIGHT CREST GRAY BACK BLACK HEAD WITH PURPLISH TINGE BROAD BLUE BILL BLACK BREAST LIGHT FLANKS ♀ BROWN BODY AND HEAD DISTINCT WHITE MASK COMMON GOLDENEYE (Bucephala clangula) [Illustration: COMMON GOLDENEYE (Bucephala clangula)] WHITE WING PATCHES ♂ GREENISH BLACK HEAD LIGHT IRIS DISTINCT WHITE PATCH WHITE BREAST AND BELLY 2ND SEASON MALE WITH BROWN HEAD AND FAINT WHITE PATCH ♀ BROWN HEAD ORANGE TIP IN BREEDING PLUMAGE GRAY BACK AND FLANKS WHITE NECK GRAY BREAST WHITE BELLY 1ST SEASON MALE IS SIMILAR IN COLORATION TO FEMALE BUT WITH HEAVIER BODY AND MORE RUGGED HEAD AND BILL BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (Bucephala islandica) [Illustration: BARROW’S GOLDENEYE (Bucephala islandica)] WHITE WING PATCHES ♂ PURPLISH BLACK HEAD WHITE CRESCENT PATCH BLACK BACK BLACK BILL WHITE BREAST AND BELLY ♀ LIGHT IRIS GRAY BACK AND FLANKS ORANGE TIP IN BREEDING PLUMAGE WHITE NECK GRAY BREAST WHITE BELLY BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola) [Illustration: BUFFLEHEAD (Bucephala albeola)] BLACK AND WHITE BACK DARK BACK WHITE WING PATCHES WHITE BELLY ♂ BLACK WITH IRIDESCENT GREEN AND PURPLE DISTINCT WHITE PATCH BLUE-GRAY BILL ♀ DARK GRAYISH BROWN DISTINCT WHITE PATCH WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Melanitta deglandi) [Illustration: WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (Melanitta deglandi)] BLACK CHUNKY BODY WHITE PATCH ♂ WHITE EYE PATCH PROMINENT BLACK KNOB REDDISH ORANGE IMMATURE HAS DISTINCT WHITE PATCHES ♀ FEATHERING EXTENDS ALMOST TO NOSTRIL ADULT FEMALE CHEEK PATCHES RANGE FROM SLIGHTLY DARKER THAN IMMATURE TO NO WHITE AT ALL FULVOUS TREE DUCK (Dendrocygna bicolor helva) [Illustration: FULVOUS TREE DUCK (Dendrocygna bicolor helva)] LONG NECK ADULT WHITE LINE IMMATURE ADULT LONG LEGS BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis autumnalis) [Illustration: BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis autumnalis)] WHITE UPPER WING ADULT LONG NECK IMMATURE WHITE WING PATCH RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis) [Illustration: RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)] DARK BROWN BELLY SILVERY WHITE ♂ SUMMER PLUMAGE WHITE CHEEK CROWN GLOSSY BLACK BILL BLUE RICH CHESTNUT ♂ WINTER PLUMAGE CROWN BROWNISH-BLACK BILL DUSKY ASHY WHITE ♀ MOTTLED CHEEK WITH DARK STRIPE BILL NAIL DISTINCTLY SHARP-POINTED GRAYISH BROWN HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus) [Illustration: HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes cucullatus)] WHITE WING PATCH ♂ WHITE CREST OUTLINED WITH BLACK THIN, SPIKE-LIKE BLACK BILL TEETH NOT INCLINED BACKWARD AS IN OTHER MERGANSERS WHITE BREAST DOUBLE BLACK BANDS ♀ CREST, LIGHT BROWN LIGHT THROAT IN FLIGHT ALL MERGANSERS CARRY BILL, NECK AND BODY IN HORIZONTAL PLANE, GIVING THEM A CHARACTERISTIC LONG-DRAWN APPEARANCE. COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser) [Illustration: COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser)] BLACK AND WHITE PATTERN WHITE WING PATCH ♂ METALLIC GREENISH-BLACK NOT CRESTED RED BILL NOSTRIL POSITIONED NEAR CENTER OF BILL ♀ DISTINCT CREST WHITE THROAT RED BILL TEETH INCLINED BACKWARDS GRAY BACK DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus) [Illustration: DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)] ADULT IMMATURE PALE BREAST YELLOW-ORANGE THROAT POUCH BLACK BODY COMMON LOON (Gavia immer) [Illustration: COMMON LOON (Gavia immer)] SUMMER ADULT CHECKERED BACK IN FLIGHT HAS DOWNWARD CURVE TO NECK WINTER ADULT FEET EXTEND BEYOND TAIL GRAY SUMMER ADULT BLACK HEAD, PURPLISH IRIDESCENCE BLACK BILL WHITE RIBBED WHITE BREAST AND BELLY WINTER ADULT GRAY WHITE SEXES ARE SIMILAR HORNED GREBE (Colymbus auritus) [Illustration: HORNED GREBE (Colymbus auritus)] WINTER PLUMAGE DARK BACK THIN BILL RED EYE WHITE CHEEKS, THROAT AND BELLY HEAD, SUMMER PLUMAGE LOBED TOES PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps) [Illustration: PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)] TARSUS FLATTENED LATERALLY ADULT HEAD BLACK IMMATURE CHICKEN-LIKE BILL WHITE STRIPED FACIAL PATTERN SEXES ARE SIMILAR WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis) [Illustration: WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis)] WHITE UNDERPARTS LONG SLENDER NECK AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana) [Illustration: AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)] WHITE SCALLOPED FLAPS WHITE PATCH SLATE GRAY BODY WHITE BILL KING RAIL (Rallus elegans) [Illustration: KING RAIL (Rallus elegans)] COMMONLY INHABITS FRESH WATER MARSHES GENERALLY HAS A RUSTY COLORATION DARK BARRING SEXES ARE SIMILAR CLAPPER RAIL (Rallus longirostris) [Illustration: CLAPPER RAIL (Rallus longirostris)] GENERALLY HAS A GRAYER COLORATION COMMONLY INHABITS TIDAL MARSHES LIGHT BARRING IMMATURE BIRDS SIMILAR TO ADULTS: SPECIES DIFFERENTIATION OFTEN DIFFICULT VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola) [Illustration: VIRGINIA RAIL (Rallus limicola)] IMMATURE BLACKISH BODY ADULT REDDISH BODY GRAY CHEEKS LONG BILL WHITE SEXES ARE SIMILAR SORA (Porzana Carolina) [Illustration: SORA (Porzana Carolina)] IMMATURE BUFFY BROWN BODY ADULT WHITE PATCH GRAY-BROWN BODY SHORT YELLOW BILL BLACK FACIAL AND THROAT PATCH COMMON SNIPE (JACKSNIPE) (Capella gallinago) [Illustration: COMMON SNIPE (JACKSNIPE) (Capella gallinago)] LONG BILL STRIPED BACK AND HEAD ORANGE TAIL HAS A CHARACTERISTIC ZIG-ZAG FLIGHT POINTED WING SEXES ARE SIMILAR AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Philohela minor) [Illustration: AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Philohela minor)] BARRED HEAD LONG BILL SHORT TAIL CHUNKY BODY LARGE EYE APPEARS NECKLESS BLUNT WING WATERFOWLER’S CODE Buy a State License, and if You Are 16 Years of Age or Older Obtain Federal Duck Stamp. It is illegal to hunt waterfowl without these licenses, and the dollars you spend for them help to maintain your sport. Know Your State, Provincial and Federal Migratory Bird Laws. When in doubt consult your local game protector or U.S. Game Management Agent. Treat the Landowner with Respect and Courtesy. Ownership of game is vested in the State and Province, but landowners have the right to prevent trespass on their land. Learn to Identify Before You Shoot. A mistake may prove both embarrassing and costly, a correct identification adds to your day’s enjoyment. Cooperate with Your Federal, State and Provincial Agencies. Solving the many problems of waterfowl production, harvest and research is possible only through continued cooperation of the duck hunter and conservationist. Use a Retriever if Possible, or at Least Pick Up Every Bird You Shoot. A good dog will pick up cripples you would otherwise have to leave. A good sportsman will never kill game needlessly. The use of retrieving dogs is a sound conservation practice in reducing crippling losses in addition to providing the pleasure of watching a good dog in action. Good Sportsmanship in the Duck Blind and on the Marshes Is Equally Important as Remaining Friendly with Your Neighbors. DISTRIBUTED BY: TEXAS GAME and FISH COMMISSION Transcriber’s Notes —Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication. —Added several birds to the Table of Contents to match the text. —Silently corrected a few typos. —In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Texas Waterfowl Identification Guide, by Central Flyway Council *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 54487 ***