Part 4

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)

GRAY BACK GRAY WING STRIPE ♂ CHESTNUT HEAD HIGH ABRUPT FOREHEAD BLUE BILL, BLACK TIP BLACK BREAST ♀ LIGHT PATCH

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)

WHITE BACK GRAY WING STRIPE ♂ CHESTNUT HEAD LONG SLOPING PROFILE, BLACK BILL BLACK BREAST ♀ GRAY BACK BROWN BREAST

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

LONG NECK ADULT WHITE LINE IMMATURE ADULT LONG LEGS

BLACK-BELLIED TREE DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis autumnalis)

WHITE UPPER WING ADULT LONG NECK IMMATURE WHITE WING PATCH

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)

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)