5 Most Common Types Of Ducks - What You Need To Know Before You Start

Ducks are a distinct group of waterfowl belonging
to the Anatidae family of birds. Like the other
bird species included in this family, such as
geese and swans, the different types of ducks
are characterized by their small plump bodies,
short bills, and of course, their webbed
feet. Before you just into types of
ducks, be familiar with the duck breeds to
identify which type suits you. Also, the
males of the species are usually the ones with
the more colorful plumage. The most common
different types of ducks in the United States
are the following:

1. Dabbling Ducks - these got their names from
their feeding habits. They wade or dabble in
shallow water as they use their bills to skim
for food. They are normally seen with their
heads bowed in the water poking around for
nourishment while their rear ends are sticking
up. The United States Geological Survey (USGS)
has recorded ten different types of ducks which
are of the native North American dabbling duck
species: the American Black Duck, Mallard,
Cinnamon Teal, Northern Pintail, Green-winged
Teal, Mottled Duck, Wigeons, Wood Duck,
Blue-winged Teal, and the Northern Shovler.

2. Diving Ducks - these likewise got their names
from the way they feed. They dive into the water
to catch their food, be it plant or animal
matter. The USGS lists the Canvasback, the
Greater and Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked, and the
Redhead as the species of diving ducks.

3. Sea Ducks - despite the name, some species of
sea ducks spend time in freshwater rivers and
lakes. There are fifteen different species which
are common in the United States. These are the
Common Eider, King Eider, Spectacled Eider,
Steller's Eider, Black Scoter, White-winged
Scoter, Surf Scoter, Barrow's Goldeneye,
Bufflehead, Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser,
Red-breasted Merganser, Harlequin Duck, Common
Goldeneye, and the Hooded Merganser.

4. Stiff-tailed Ducks - as their name implies,
these ducks swim with their tail stiffly
projected up in the air. There are only two
species in the United States: the Ruddy Ducks,
which are commonly found in the freshwater ponds
and lakes on the West Coast; and the Masked Duck,
which is a resident of warmer places such as
Texas and Florida.

5. Whistling Ducks - while different types of
ducks are commonly associated with quacking,
this species is known to vocalize through
whistling. Like the Stiff-tailed Ducks, there
are only two species in the United States: the
Black-Bellied Duck, which is normally found
along the southern coast of Texas; and the
Fulvous Whistling Duck, which normally resides
along the southern states from California to
Florida.

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If you think you still need guidance on where to
start, consulting existing duck owners and
farmers will certainly be a big help.Are you
looking for more tips on different types of
ducks? If you would like to learn more about
raising ducks correctly, please visit:
http://www.howtoraiseducks.com

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