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Ducks Found in the Temperate Deciduous Forest

A temperate deciduous forest consists of trees that lose their leaves each year within a climate zone that experiences moderate rainfall and temperatures. These forests grow along the U.S. East Coast, most of the Midwest, in the Southeast and in southeastern Canada, as well as places like Japan, China, Germany, and eastern Russia. As its name implies, the wood duck is one species that frequents these habitats. But dozens of other waterfowl do too.

Migratory Ducks
- Canvasbacks in migration
  
  The temperate deciduous forest in the United States is not the home range to many ducks. However, in spring and fall ducks appear in big numbers in this forest as they travel between their summer ranges in northern Canada and southern homes in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico. There are two migratory flyways in North America where ducks pass through the deciduous forest zone. They are the Atlantic and the Mississippi. During migration, mergansers, canvasbacks, scaups, loons, ruddy ducks and other ducks can be seen throughout the temperate deciduous forest zone on their way north or south. A few stay in this region in the summer, but most continue farther north.
Mallard
- The common mallard is the dominant duck in the deciduous zone.
  
  In the United States the mallard is the only duck that is a year-round resident in these forests. Other ducks like the black duck and the blue-winged teal may on occasion be spotted in winter, but the mallard is the primary duck that remains throughout the year. Even in the fair weather months when the migratory ducks are either flying through or living in the temperate deciduous forests, the mallard is the most common waterfowl inhabitant.
Wood Duck
- The wood duck is common in wooded swamps.
  
  Wood ducks are not year-round residents in the deciduous zone. They migrate south in the winter; however, many of them do not migrate as far north as other waterfowl that fly out of this biome into Canada. They love wooded swamps, and their signature bleating as they fly away is a common sound in the spring, summer and fall.
Other Ducks
- The common pintail is found in the deciduous zone except in the winter.
  
  Most of the ducks found in the temperate deciduous forest are migratory ducks that stay for a short while in spring and fall; however, some call this area home during the summer. The wood duck is one. Other waterfowl found in these forests during most of the year include the pied-billed grebe, the blue-winged teal, the American coot, the common pintail, the American gallinule, and the ring-necked duck.

Animals & Science