Male ducks in some species are easy to identify:



This becomes trickier with females. Take the Pekin Duck for example.

If the duck has a curled feather at the end of the tail, it is a male.
No curled feather means female.

In addition, female Pekins have a loud honk and the males give a quieter quack.
Female and male American Black Ducks also look alike. The difference is that the male has a yellow bill.


Here are photos I have taken of 21 species of Ontario female ducks.
GADWALL


MALLARD


AMERICAN WIGEON


WOOD DUCK



NORTHERN SHOVELER


BLUE-WINGED TEAL


GREEN-WINGED TEAL


WHITE-WINGED SCOTER


LONG-TAILED DUCK



REDHEAD



RING-NECKED DUCK


LESSER SCAUP (the differences between Lesser and Greater Scaup are subtle)


GREATER SCAUP


COMMON GOLDENEYE


HARLEQUIN DUCK


BUFFLEHEAD



RUDDY DUCK


COMMON MERGANSER


RED-BREASTED MERGANSER


HOODED MERGANSER


NATURE POETRY
She was a Phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my sight;
A lovely Apparition – William Wordsworth
Miles Hearn
Great post. Thanks. At this time of year where would the best place be to see the widest variety of ducks and hence to practice female duck identification?:)