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?:)