Hobbies And Interests
Diving Ducks
Also known as pochards or scaups, diving ducks are typically freshwater breeds, but there are some marine diving ducks. Their feet are farther back on their bodies, making it more difficult to walk on land, but giving them the ability to dive deep into the water in search of food such as crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish and their eggs. The follow are all diving duck breeds: black scoter, the most vocal of the waterfowl species; Barrow's goldeneye, which can be either fresh water or marine ducks; canvasback; common elder, the biggest duck in the Northern Hemisphere; common goldeneye, named for its bright yellow eyes; common merganser; greater scaup; harlequin duck, known for diving to the bottom of fast-moving rivers; hooded merganser, the smallest merganser; king elder, known to dive up to 180 feet deep; lesser scaup; red-breasted merganser; redhead duck; ring-necked duck, named for the faint brown ring around their neck; ruddy ducks, which have a light blue bill; spectacled elder; steller's eider; surf scoter, exclusive to North America; and white-winged scoter, which is both a marine and fresh water duck.
Dabbling Ducks
Dabbling ducks are surface feeders and reside primarily on inland waters. Their diet consists mainly of plants and some insects, foraging both in and out of the water. Unlike diving ducks, their legs are centered on their body, making it much easier for them to walk on land. Dabbling duck breeds include the American black duck, which breeds primarily in Maine and Nova Scotia; American wigeon; blue-winged teal, typically the first to migrate south in fall and last north in the spring; cinnamon teal, which have a distinguishing red eye; Eurasian wigeon; gadwall; green-winged teal, the smallest North American duck; mallard, the most common of all duck breeds; masked duck, which is closely related to the ruddy duck; muscovy duck, a breed in which the males are twice the size of the females; northern shoveler, which has a large spoon-shaped bill; northern pintail; tufted duck, which dive as well as surface-feed; white-cheeked pintail, warm-weather ducks that do not migrate; and he wood duck, mainly found in wooded swamps and freshwater marshes.
Whistling Ducks
Also known as tree ducks, whistling ducks have long necks and legs, and most can be found perched in trees. These slow-flying ducks are aggressive, but they can also be sociable. The West Indian whistling duck, common in the Caribbean, is a large breed and among the least vocal of the whistling ducks. The black-bellied whistling duck is commonly found feeding in fields and shallow water, and generally mates with a partner for life. The fulvous whistling duck, a nocturnal breed, feeds primarily on grain and seeds.
Geese and Swans
Also a member of the waterfowl family, geese and swans are larger but have the same feeding and migrating patterns as their counterpart, the duck. Geese, however, tend to be more aggressive than ducks and typically migrate further. Several breeds of geese include the barnacle goose, brant goose, cackling goose, Canada goose, emperor goose, greater snow goose, Hawaiian "Nene" goose, lesser snow goose, Ross's goose, and white-fronted goose. Swans, such as the tundra swan and trumpeter swan, are the largest waterfowl and are mostly white in color.