In the Toronto area, we find the largest variety of ducks in the winter. In spring many of these ducks begin to migrate north and west to their breeding grounds.
Mallards, Wigeon, Black Ducks and Gadwall
I have prepared a quiz on duck identification. Please feel free to consult identification guides.
In the case of Scaup, the difference between Greater Scaup and Lesser Scaup is very subtle so the answer Scaup is correct.
PART 1: MALES (or species where male and female look the same)
#1
Common goldeneye (male)
#2
Ruddy Duck (male)
#3
American Black Duck
#4
Northern Shoveler (male)
#5
Greater Scaup (male)
#6
Bufflehead (male)
#7
White-winged Scoter
#8
Common Merganser (male)
#9
Gadwalls
#10
American wigeon (male)
#11
Long-tailed Duck (male)
#12
Red-breasted Merganser (male)
#13
Blue-winged Teal (male)
#14
Mallard (male)
#15
Green-winged Teal (photo: wikimedia)
#16
Wood Duck (male)
#17
Redhead (male)
#18
Hooded merganser (male)
#19
Northern Pintail
#20
American Coot (technically a member of the Rail family)
PART 2: FEMALES
#1
Red-breasted merganser (female)
#2
Long-tailed Duck (male)
#3
Mallard (female)
#4
Common Mergansers (females)
#5
Northern shoveler (female)
#6
Lesser Scaup (female)
#7
Redhead (female)
#8
Ruddy Duck (female)
#9
Bufflehead (female)
#10
Common Goldeneye (female)
#11
Green-winged Teal (female)
BONUS QUESTION
This one is from the southern hemisphere.
Yellow-billed Pintail
Miles Hearn