How To Identify Ducks

Ducks can be hard to identify unless they are up close. Most guides show all the field marks, even those too far to see on a distant duck. Size, shape and behavior are more important on identifying far away waterfowl. Here's what to look for.

[thesecretthirdthing]

I've found a good secret to identifying ducks is to go birding with someone who owns a scope and to let them identify them.

[nickgiuntoli]

Perfect timing for this informative video as I will be duck watching tomorrow. I will forever be a novice bird watcher. But thanks to Bob's videos, I'll be a better novice birdwatcher.

[bennyking]

Great Video Bob, these videos where you tackle a family/group all at once are awesome. Looking forward to the Sea Duck Video. Hope we get another North Maine Woods video this winter as well, that might be my favorite environment you go to.

[bruce]

Thank you for helping me sort out the ducks. Truly useful info. I enjoyed the "every duck is a mallard until it isn't."
Out here on the left coast, I quess we could say that every hawk is a Redtail until it isn't.

[blackshadowghoster]

As a duck hunter and a watcher of wildlife this was entertaining & educational.

[chiprucker]

So glad that your channel is finally getting the recogition that it deserves. Happy Holiday's Bob.

[elijacoby]

Saw my first Northern Shoveler yesterday. Thanks for the great vids

[justingiacobbe]

Another gem of a video from Bob. Legend

[bigcheese]

Fantastic!!! Can’t wait for the sea ducks!

[tkjordan]

Excellent video! I just got my first Common Goldeneye in NC last week. I’m hoping to find a couple more of these species before the new year!

[louisswaim]

Greetings from the SF Bay Area. It’s taken years for my duck ID skills to sink in, and they’re largely impression-based rather than field mark recognition. Right now is a great time here for Hooded Mergansers, Goldeneyes, Canvasbacks, teals, and others. Great video!

[libertymedicalcommunicatio]

This was enormously helpful. Thank you! It helped me verify that the redhead I just saw was in fact, a redhead!

[zizzie]

Your videos bring such joy, thank you.
I was very fortunate in that at the beginning of my birding education in the 80’s, I joined the Denver Field Ornithologists, which at the time was he only birding group in the country that met every weekend, year round. (And they proudly told you). One of my first trips was shorebirds in them Rocky Mountains, and I witnessed and VERY animated ‘discussion’ between several charter members (who were in their 70’s) about the ID. Now 40 years later, if I don’t know what it is, I shrug and don’t get upset. Valuable lesson learned.

[robertstorms]

"Everything is a mallard, till it isn't" is perfect.

[Jpsbs]

Awesome lesson in duck identification Bob So many varieties...I know one...🦆🦆🦆🦆 Mallards 😅 Great Job Bob from beautiful Maine 😊

[MexIrishBackyardBirdwatcher]

I have trouble telling the different kinds of ducks apart. I haven't quite made it past the ditty "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck."

[bobbyscott]

This was great; really enjoyed it and your delivery! 🙏👍 From Sophia, N.C.

[cliftonwhittaker]

Another good video in the can, Bob. But I don't remember you mentioning the bufflehead ducks. We get a few here in middle Tennessee at one of our city ponds every year. I live nearby so I seldom miss any of our waterfowl visitors through the winter. I can't believe how many different species I have photographed on our little 5 acre pond over the years, many of whom are far from their normal flyways and feeding areas.

[kevinharding]

You forgot the easiest black and white (and my favorite) Bufflehead!

[leobachand]

Bob, great video!!! A lot of great tips!!