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