How To Identify Ducks
When birders start their birding journey, they often start with the recognisable, fun, colourful birds that dart about trees in the local park or hop about the neighbourhood backyard feeders. But for the slightly more adventurous birder, ducks can become the next logical step in the game. They can feel overwhelming to begin with, but this Ontario Duck Guide should help you on your way!
We can start by breaking the different ducks into groups known as “tribes”.
Click each one to learn more, or skip to the ducks below:
Perching Ducks
Tribe: Cairinini
Includes: Only the Wood Duck in Ontario
They perch in trees and have claws on the ends of their webbed feet. They nest in tree cavities (or nest boxes). Muscovy Duck is another perching duck, but is an introduced species in Ontario and isn’t covered in this guide.
Dabbling Ducks
Tribe: Anatini
Includes: Mallards, Teals, Wigeon, Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall
These are the surface-feeders you see tipping bottoms-up in shallow water. They have legs centred on their body, allowing them to walk well on land. Many have a patch of colour on the speculum (part of the wing).
Diving Ducks
Tribe: Aythyini
Includes: Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Redhead
These ducks dive completely underwater to find food. Their legs are set further back on their bodies for swimming power, which makes them awkward walkers but excellent divers.
Sea Ducks and Mergansers
Tribe: Mergani
Includes: Mergansers, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Scoters, Long-tailed Duck
Despite being called “Sea Ducks,” many are found on freshwater in Ontario during winter. They are specialised divers with salt glands for dealing with coastal ocean waters; Mergansers specifically have serrated “saw-bills” to catch fish.
Stiff-tailed Ducks
Tribe: Oxyurini
Includes: Only the Ruddy Duck in Ontario!
Small, compact diving ducks with stiff tail feathers that often stick upright.
The Guide
Perching Ducks
