Coastal Carolina

HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 10.5 inches Wingspan: 24 inches * Very small, short-necked, and small-billed dabbling duck * Green speculum * Whitish belly * Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from Fall through early summer * Dark bill * Rich rust-colored head * Iridescent green face patch sweeping through eye and tapering to the back of head * Buff chest with dark spotting * Gray flanks and back * Vertical white line at fore part of flanks * Horizontal black line above flanks * Buff outer undertail coverts bordered by black * Black central undertail coverts Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female, but with duller face pattern Adult female: * Dark gray bill * Pale brown head and neck * Dark brown cap and eye line * Dark brown back and upperwing coverts scalloped with buff * White breast spotted with brown * White belly Similar species: Adult male unmistakable in winter. Females, immature and eclipse males similar to most female ducks, but are very small, short-billed, and have a distinctive wing pattern that is sometimes visible at rest.

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Anas crecca HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 10.5 inches Wingspan: 24 inches * Very small, short-necked, and small-billed dabbling duck * Green speculum * Whitish belly * Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from Fall through early summer * Dark bill * Rich rust-colored head * Iridescent green face patch sweeping through eye and tapering to the back of head * Buff chest with dark spotting * Gray flanks and back * Vertical white line at fore part of flanks * Horizontal black line above flanks * Buff outer undertail coverts bordered by black * Black central undertail coverts Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female, but with duller face pattern Adult female: * Dark gray bill * Pale brown head and neck * Dark brown cap and eye line * Dark brown back and upperwing coverts scalloped with buff * White breast spotted with brown * White belly Similar species: Adult male unmistakable in winter. Females, immature and eclipse males similar to most female ducks, but are very small, short-billed, and have a distinctive wing pattern that is sometimes visible at rest.

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Lophodytes cucullatus (Mergus cucullatus) HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 13 inches Wingspan: 26 inches * Small, compact diving duck * Long, pointed bill with serrated edges * Erectile, fan-like crest extends from back of head * Dark bill and wings * Often cocks its tail like a Ruddy Duck * Immature similar to adult female Adult male: * Yellow eye * Black head and back * Large white patch in the center of the crest * White breast and belly * Black and white stripes at forward portion of reddish flanks * Dark tail * Inner half of upperwings whitish, brodered by 2 dark bars * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Male in basic eclipse plumage similar to adult female Adult female: * Brown eye * Cold gray-brown head, neck, flanks, back, and upperwings with paler breast * Faint reddish tinge to crest * White belly Similar species: Adult male in alternate plumage is unmistakable. Female vaguely similar to other mergansers but much smaller with cold brown head, with reddish fan-like crest, and dark bill.

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Aythya affinis HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 12 inches Wingspan: 29 inches * Small, compact diving duck * Peaked crown * Yellow eyes * Blue bill with small black nail at tip * Dark wing with dark tipped white secondaries and pale gray primaries * Immature female similar to adult female, immature male is similar to female in autumn, but acquires alternate plumage during winter Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Glossy purplish head * Black breast * Whitish or pale gray flanks, white belly * Whitish back with fine black vermiculations * Black tail, upper- and under-tail coverts Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female Adult female: * Distinct white band around base of bill * Dark brown body plumage * Whitish belly Similar species: Adult male Ring-necked Duck similar in alternate plumage but has quite different bill pattern, black back, grayer flanks and vertical white finger just behind black breast. Greater Scaup is very similar but has a more rounded head, larger bill, dark-tipped white primaries and secondaries, and glossy, greenish head as an adult male in alternate plumage. Female Greater Scaup has more rounded head, a broader bill, and more white flight feathers, and frequently has a distinct pale spot behind eye on side of head.

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Anas platyrhynchos HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 15-16 inches Wingspan: 36 inches * Large dabbling duck * Blue speculum with white bar along both leading and trailing edges * Silvery-white wing linings * Juvenile similar to adult female * In the southwestern United States the "Mexican Duck", formerly a separate species, has both sexes similar to the female Mallard Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Gray back * Yellow bill * Green head * White ring around neck * Chestnut breast * Gray flanks and upperwing coverts * Black undertail coverts contrast with white tail Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female, but usually with chestnut breast and an unmarked yellowish bill Adult female: * Orange bill with black central patch * Pale brown face * Dark cap and eye line * Mottled brown and tan plumage Similar species: Adult male in alternate plumage is unmistakable. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males could be confused with Black Ducks, Gadwalls and Mottled Ducks, but note the blue speculum with white borders on both sides. Gadwalls are also distinctive in their steeper forehead, gray bill with orange edges and white belly patch. Hybrid Mallard x Black Ducks are often seen and are darker than Mallards, with a more purple speculum bordered by white on one or both edges and usually show some traces of the Mallard plumage.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 15-16 inches Wingspan: 36 inches * Large dabbling duck * Blue speculum with white bar along both leading and trailing edges * Silvery-white wing linings * Juvenile similar to adult female * In the southwestern United States the "Mexican Duck", formerly a separate species, has both sexes similar to the female Mallard Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Gray back * Yellow bill * Green head * White ring around neck * Chestnut breast * Gray flanks and upperwing coverts * Black undertail coverts contrast with white tail Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female, but usually with chestnut breast and an unmarked yellowish bill Adult female: * Orange bill with black central patch * Pale brown face * Dark cap and eye line * Mottled brown and tan plumage Similar species: Adult male in alternate plumage is unmistakable. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males could be confused with Black Ducks, Gadwalls and Mottled Ducks, but note the blue speculum with white borders on both sides. Gadwalls are also distinctive in their steeper forehead, gray bill with orange edges and white belly patch. Hybrid Mallard x Black Ducks are often seen and are darker than Mallards, with a more purple speculum bordered by white on one or both edges and usually show some traces of the Mallard plumage.

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Anas acuta HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 18.5 inches Wingspan: 35 inches * Medium-sized dabbling duck with very long neck, small head and attenuated rear * Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Pale gray bill with black stripe down center * Dark brown head * White neck, breast and belly with white finger extending up back of neck to rear part of face * Gray flanks and back with black centers to back feathers * Whitish patch at rear portion of flanks bordering undertail coverts * Black undertail coverts * Long, black central tail feathers * Green speculum with white rear border and chestnut forward border Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female but retains green speculum Adult female: * Gray bill * Tan head and neck * Mottled tan and dark brown back and body plumage, paler on belly * Brown speculum with white rear border Similar species: Adult male unmistakable in alternate plumage. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males are similar to many other female ducks but have a distinctive shape: very long-necked, small-headed and pointed-tailed. Note also female's brown speculum bordered at the rear by white.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 18.5 inches Wingspan: 35 inches * Medium-sized dabbling duck with very long neck, small head and attenuated rear * Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Pale gray bill with black stripe down center * Dark brown head * White neck, breast and belly with white finger extending up back of neck to rear part of face * Gray flanks and back with black centers to back feathers * Whitish patch at rear portion of flanks bordering undertail coverts * Black undertail coverts * Long, black central tail feathers * Green speculum with white rear border and chestnut forward border Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female but retains green speculum Adult female: * Gray bill * Tan head and neck * Mottled tan and dark brown back and body plumage, paler on belly * Brown speculum with white rear border Similar species: Adult male unmistakable in alternate plumage. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males are similar to many other female ducks but have a distinctive shape: very long-necked, small-headed and pointed-tailed. Note also female's brown speculum bordered at the rear by white.

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HOW TO IDENTIFY: * Length: 18.5 inches Wingspan: 35 inches * Medium-sized dabbling duck with very long neck, small head and attenuated rear * Juvenile similar to adult female Adult male alternate: * Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer * Pale gray bill with black stripe down center * Dark brown head * White neck, breast and belly with white finger extending up back of neck to rear part of face * Gray flanks and back with black centers to back feathers * Whitish patch at rear portion of flanks bordering undertail coverts * Black undertail coverts * Long, black central tail feathers * Green speculum with white rear border and chestnut forward border Adult male basic: * Similar to adult female but retains green speculum Adult female: * Gray bill * Tan head and neck * Mottled tan and dark brown back and body plumage, paler on belly * Brown speculum with white rear border Similar species: Adult male unmistakable in alternate plumage. Females, immature and eclipse-plumage males are similar to many other female ducks but have a distinctive shape: very long-necked, small-headed and pointed-tailed. Note also female's brown speculum bordered at the rear by white.

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