Wlf 419

WLF 419 - Waterfowl and Wetland Ecology and Management Lab 3 and 4 - Waterfowl Classification and Identification (Modified from Baldassarre and Bolen 1994)
Useful Links for Waterfowl Identification Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Gallery Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center - Waterfowl Identification in the Central Flyway Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center - Ducks at a Distance Colorado Waterfowl Association Southern Duck Hunter - Waterfowl Species Identification HSU Waterfowl Ecology 420 - Waterfowl Identification

Taxonomy and Identification for North American Species
Order Anseriformes Long necked Short legged Semi-aquatic Primary wing feathers (1st always reduced in size) Feathered oil gland Adults have undercoat of down Precocial young
Suborder Anseres
Family Anatidae (waterfowl; ducks, geese, and swans) Flattened bills with lamellae and a nail (dertrum) Webbing in forward 3 toes At least one flightless molt annually Reticulate tarsi - Subfamily Dendrocygninae, Anserinae, and Stictonettinae; Scuttellatte tarsi for all other waterfowl - morphological feature to separate NA swans and geese from ducks
Subfamily Dendrocygninae Whistling or "tree" ducks Wanderers
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor Black-bellied Whistling Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
Subfamily Anserinae Triumph display Sexes have similar vocalizations and plumages Monogamous
Tribe Cygnini Swans Largest waterfowl (Trumpeter - NA)
Mute Swan Cygnus olor Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator Whistling (Tundra) Swan Olor columbianus
Tribe Anserini True geese Subspecies common
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons *Snow Goose Anser caerulescens* (2 subspecies)** Ross Goose Anser rossi Emperor Goose Anser canagicus Hawaiian Goose Branta sandvicensis *Canada Goose Branta canadensis* (11 subspecies) Brant Branta bernicla (2 subspecies)**
Subfamily Anatinae Largest Subfamily Generally sexually dimorphic plumage
Tribe Anatini Dabbling ducks Generally colorful speculum
Gadwall Mareca strepera American Widgeon Mareca americana American Black Duck Anas rubripes Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula Mexican Duck Anas diazi Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Hawaiian Duck Anas wyvilliana Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Northern Pintail Anas acuta American Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis American Wood Duck Aix Sponsa
Tribe Aythyini Diving ducks Pochards Lobed Hallux White or gray speculum
Canvasback Aythya valisineria Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Greater Scaup Aythya marila Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Tribe Mergini Sea Ducks Generally sexually dimorphic
Steller Eider Polysticta stelleri Commom Eider Somateria mollissima King Eider Somateria spectabilis Spectacled Eider Somateria fischeri Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Black Scoter Melanitta nigra Surf Scoter Melanitta perspecillata White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw) Clangula hyemalis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Barrow Goldeneye Bucephala islandica Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Common (Goosander) Merganser Mergus merganser
Tribe Oxyurini Stiff-tailed ducks
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
Taxonomy for Other Species in Order Anseriformes
Suborder Anhimae (screamers)
Family Anhimidae
Suborder Anseres
Family Anseranatidae
Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata
Family Anatidae
Subfamily Thalassorinae 1 specie Africa
White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus
Subfamily Tadorninae Steamer Ducks Sheldduck and Sheldgeese Comb Duck World-wide except Nearctic
Subfamily Plectropterinae 1 species Africa
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
Subfamily Stictonettinae 1 species Australia
Freckled Duck Sticotonetta naevosa