By Tony Gazso, Interpretive Naturalist

Winter is right around the corner despite the recent heatwave, but this doesn’t mean an end to bird migration. We’ve touched on it in previous posts, but “fall” migration really continues all the way into spring (at least in some capacity). Although we’re all familiar with the treacherous and  snowy conditions we see here in the winter, for many birds this is simply the place to be. That’s right–they come to Ohio for the winter when most of us would rather be somewhere warmer. One such group of birds is waterfowl including ducks and geese. Ducks can be divided into two main categories: dabbling and diving. In this first part of a three-part series, we’ll look at dabbling ducks and talk about some of the species we see in our lakes and ponds.

What is a dabbling duck? A dabbling duck is a duck that eats food at or near the surface. You’ll often see their tails sticking up out of the water while their heads are underwater nabbing vegetation. Although you may see an occasional mallard try to dive completely underwater, dabbling ducks stick to the water’s surface. Let's take a closer look at some dabbling ducks that can be seen in our area:
 
American black duck: These ducks are easy to mistake for female mallards as their patterns are nearly identical, but there are ways to tell them apart. First, they are a cooler, more chocolate brown as opposed to the warmer brown of a mallard. The bill is the real key though. A female mallard has an orange bill with dark mottling, whereas the black duck has a yellow or olive-colored bill with no mottling. Additionally, the speculum (a stripe of color on their wing) is purple and outlined in black instead of the mallard’s blue with white border. Look for American black ducks mixed in with mallards. It’ll make it easier to compare!

American black duck

Northern shoveler: These short-necked ducks have huge shovel-like bills that they use to lap up surface vegetation. Males have a green head, like a mallard, but that’s where the visual similarities end. Shovelers often work together to forage for food, swirling around and around in circles. This creates a whirlpool effect, drawing vegetation and small invertebrates closer to the surface for them to eat. Look for short, squat ducks with white breasts and virtually no neck.

Northern shoveler

Northern pintail: These elegant ducks are named for the long tail of the males. The male has a gray body with a chocolate brown head, white throat and stripe along the back of the head. Northern pintails are one of the most widespread duck species in the world and are found throughout North American and Afro Eurasia. They are about the size of a mallard, and in good light, their brown heads show a bit of pink iridescence.

Northern pintail

Gadwall: Although looking rather drab at first appearance, a good look shows the subtle beauty of the gadwall. A mostly brownish-gray bird, the back is sprinkled with beautiful salmon pink accents. Silhouette is one of the most defining features of the gadwall, as it has a very steep forehead and a slightly smaller bill. They can also be identified by their black rump and all-white speculum. If gadwall are feeding near diving ducks, look for them to try to snatch food from their diving cousins when they surface.

Gadwall

Green-winged teal: One of the smallest dabbling ducks in Ohio, the green-winged teal is a gray duck with cinnamon colored head and a green mask. Both males and females have bright green speculums, which is where they get their name. Unlike their blue-winged cousins, the green-winged teal is more common in our area in late fall and winter.

Green-winged teal

Blue-winged teal: Another small teal, the blue-winged is more common in late winter and spring since they actually breed in our region unlike most of the other ducks on this list. In a bit of a twist, the blue-winged teal does not get its name from the color of the speculum like the green-winged does, but rather from the pale blue “shoulder” feathers that are typically not seen unless the bird is flapping its wings.

Blue-winged teal

Wood duck: A year-round resident, the wood duck is known for its elaborate crest and coloration. As its name suggests, the wood duck is found in more wooded areas than most other ducks and are one of the only ducks to nest in hollows in trees as opposed to on the ground. Wood duck nest boxes are a common sight throughout Lake Metroparks.

Wood duck

Mallard duck: Last but certainly not least is the mallard. The most widespread duck in the world and the most recognizable, mallards are found throughout the northern hemisphere, and have even been introduced in Australia. Mallards are seen in Ohio every month of the year. The prototypical duck, the mallard sports its trademark green head, chestnut breast and blue speculum. Look for them everywhere from ponds to lakes to parking lots.

Mallard duck

This is certainly not an exhaustive list of dabbling ducks, but these are the most common to our region. Join us for part two when we take a look at diving ducks!