A Picture Gallery of Ducks

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Ducks are so beautiful, but it can be hard to get a good look at them. They move around quickly and dive underwater when you try to take their picture. We all know that ducks make great pets, but they’re also wild animals. You might not have the time or space for a pet duck in your home.

Even if you did, there’s no guarantee that your neighbors will approve of one. This is where this picture gallery comes in handy. It’s easy to browse through hundreds of pictures of different kinds of ducks without ever leaving your house or getting wet feet.

In the following gallery pictures, you’ll discover markings, information, and trivia about various types of ducks around the world. Keep reading.

American Wigeon

The American Wigeon is a beautiful dabbling duck that you might see swimming in ponds and lakes across North America. Its scientific name is called Anas Americana. It has a heavily speckled head, and the males have a white forehead and wide green stripe behind the eye while females are generally plainer.

Both genders have a distinctive light blue bill with a black tip. While they are widespread, these ducks can be wary, though they can mingle in mixed flocks with mallards and duck species.

Northern Shoveler

The Northern Shoveler is a beautiful North American dabbling duck. It has a pinkish bill and white specks all over its body, giving it the appearance of being wearing makeup. The scientific name for this duck is Anas clypeata. 

This duck isn’t only recognizable for its bold, colorful plumage and for having the biggest bill of any North American duck species. They use this bill to feed along the surface of the water. This duck will also tip its backside up to feed on aquatic plants along the bottom of shallow ponds and lakes.

Mallard

The mallard is one of the most common and recognizable ducks in the world. It’s also a popular game bird. Mallards frequently crossbred with other duck species, making it a challenge to identify some of their offspring. Its scientific name is called Anas platyrhynchos. 

Males have the more colorful plumage, including the iridescent blue, green head, and distinctive tail curl, while females are mottled brown. As a dabbling duck, mallards feed in shallow rivers, ponds, and lakes and become quite tame near human habitation.

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy ducks got their name from their characteristic chestnut head and neck. They are also one of the most widespread ducks in North America. You can find these ducks in every U.S. state as well as much of Canada. Males are a rich chestnut brown, while females are more camouflaged dingy brown.

Winter males resemble females, and they’re relatively sluggish ducks on the surface and frequently dive to avoid predators and feed. Its scientific name is Oxyura jamaicensis.

Mandarin Duck

The mandarin duck is a strikingly colorful duck endemic to Asia, Russia, and Japan, with an isolated feral population in the United Kingdom. These bold birds are perching ducks closely related to the North American wood duck. They’re very popular in Asian artwork, thanks to their distinctive beauty. 

The Chinese lores also use the mandarin duck as a symbol of wedded bliss and marital fidelity. Its scientific name is called Aix galericulata.

Smew Duck

The smew duck is a small diving duck found in Europe, Asia, and North America. This bird is easily identified by its striking white crest and black body. The male smew has a bright orange beak, which it uses to find fish underwater.

Females lack white coloration and are mostly gray and brown with a white cheek patch. Its scientific name is called Mergellus albellus.

Harlequin Duck

This medium-sized diving duck is found in Western Canada and throughout Alaska, especially on rocky coasts. The harlequin duck has bold plumage both in terms of color and patterns.

Male ducks have red, white, and blue-gray plumage with white crescents, spots, and lines, while females are plainer brown with distinctive white markings on the head. Its scientific name is called Histrionicus histrionicus.

Canvasback Duck

This is North America’s largest duck. It has a large rounded head with white underparts, neck, and upper back. The male ducks are entirely black, while the female ducks are brown with pale patches on their face and neck. 

The sloping head shape and long, black tapered bill are distinctive field marks for this species and help distinguish it from the redhead. Its scientific name is called Aythya valisineria.

Common Goldeneye

This is a small diving duck found in most parts of the United States and Canada. The male has a distinctive white cheek patch on its iridescent black head and a bright yellow eye, while the female is mostly brown with some light barring on the breast. 

The common goldeneye has a shorter bill than most diving ducks and can often be seen swimming on the surface of the water, looking for small mollusks and aquatic insects to eat. Its scientific name is called Bucephala Clangula.

Ring-Necked Duck

This medium-sized diving duck is found in most of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The male has a distinctive ring around his neck, while the female’s breast is finely spotted with brown markings. 

The ring-necked duck dives for food on the bottom of lakes or ponds, and its diet consists mainly of aquatic plants. Its scientific name is called Aythya collaris.

Northern Pintail

The male northern pintail is the most strikingly handsome of all the ducks with his long, slender neck and tail. He can be found in open countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. While many duck species have blunt, stubby tails, the northern pintail has a distinctive long, thin tail that’s often held at a sharp upward angle.

As a dabbling duck, northern pintails feed by tipping forward into the water to forage on aquatic plants, and one-third of their diet consists of fish and small animals. The northern pintails are susceptible to lead poisoning from short pellets that sink into ponds where they feed. Its scientific name is called Anas acuta.

FAQs on Picture Gallery of Ducks

What is interesting about ducks?

Ducks are also called waterfowl because they’re found in places where there is water, such as ponds, streams, and rivers. They can live up to 20 years depending on the species and if cared for. Their egg production is affected by daylight as if they’ll lay more eggs when there is more daylight.

Final Thought on Picture Gallery of Ducks

As you can see, there are various types of ducks, and each species has a different value. Some lay eggs while others are bred for their meat. Ducks have provided humans with more than they need to survive. But just like how to care for baby birds, ducks also need to be cared for whether they’re at home or in the wild.

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