The Blue-winged Teal (Scientific Name - Anas discors) is a small dabbling duck found throughout North America. They winter as far south as the northern part of South America. Because they migrate long distances, they often leave to head south earlier than some other species. They are mainly brown ducks, with the male displaying distinctive white facial crescent. In flight the powdery blue forewing can be seen giving them their name. The photos were taken in Abbotsford, B.C. in June 2015 (single male) and in Valemount, B.C. in May 2015 (pair).
The Cinnamon Teal (Scientific name - Anas cyanoptera) is a small dabbling duck found in ponds and marshes throughout western North America as far north as mid British Columbia and Alberta. They are also found in western South America. The males are brightly coloured with a cinnamon coloured head and body during breeding season. The female is fairly plain brown with a scalloped pattern on the back and flanks. Photos taken in May 2015 in Valemount, British Columbia.
The Gadwall (Scientific Name - Anas strepera) is a dabbling (puddling) duck found across North America, although more prevalent in the West. They range from Alaska down into Mexico and Central America. It is slightly smaller than the more common Mallard and the females of the species look similar. The male has a round brown head, and a grey brown and black body with finely patterned flanks and breast. They have a black patch on the upper tail. Photos taken at the Colony Farm Regional Park, Port Coquitlam, B.C. in April 2015.
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| Male |
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| Female |
The Harlequin Duck (Scientific name - Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small diving duck that prefers fast moving streams and surf areas. They are found on the Northwestern and Northeastern coasts of North America and also in Greenland, Iceland and as far as Russia. They are colourful ducks with the male having chestnut sides and white markings including white bands on breast and neck, a white face patch with a rust "eyebrow" and a single white "dot" behind the eye. On first glance at a distance, one might think they are Wood Ducks. The female is less colourful with a dark sooty brown body and smaller white face patch. Photos were taken in May 2014 on Whiffen Spit, Sooke, B.C. (near Victoria, B.C.)
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| Female and male |
The Green-winged Teal (Scientific name - Anas crecca) is a small dabbling duck found throughout North America. It breeds in Canada and Alaska and winters in the southern Caribbean and Mexico. It is a beautiful duck with the male having a distinctive rufous coloured head with a dark green ear patch. Photos were taken in March 2014 at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, B.C. and at Blackie Spit, Crescent Beach, Surrey, B.C.
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| Male |
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| Female |
The Bufflehead (Scientific name - Bucephala albeola) is a small diving duck found throughout North America. They range from Alaska to Mexico. The male is easily distinguished by the large white wedge at the back of its dark head. It has a dark back and white body. The head is somewhat iridescent and shows green to purple. The female is much more plain with a greyish brown body and darker back. The female head is dark brown with a oval white patch on the cheek.
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| Female |
The photos were all taken at Mill Lake, Abbotsford, B.C. between November 2013 and January 2014.
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| Male |
The Hooded Merganser (Scientific name - Lophodytes cucullatus) is the smallest of the mergansers. The males and the females both have crests that they can raise or flatten. This species is found in both the Eastern and Western parts of North America. They are medium distance migrants and many stay resident if the waters remain ice free. The males are very distinctive with a black and white head and black and white back and brown undersides. The females are mainly shades of brown and grey.
Photos were taken at Mill Lake, Abbotsford, British Columbia in January 2014.
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| Female |
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| Male |
The Barrow's Goldeneye (Scientific name - Bucephala islandica) is a medium sized diving duck. It is found primarily in the Western part of North America near the Pacific Coast and breeds as far north as Alaska and the Yukon Territory. There is a smaller population on the East Coast .
The Barrow's Goldeneye male is predominately black and white with a purple gloss to the head. There is a distinctive bold white facial crescent and white "piano key" marlins on it's sides. The female is duller in colour with a brown head and a brownish grey body.
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| Male and Female |
Photos taken in January 2014
at Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C.
The Northern Pintail (Scientific name - Anas acuta), also just known as Pintail is a dabbling duck found in many parts of North America and Eurasia. In North America it nests as far North as Northern Canada and Alaska. It migrates South as far as Central America and into the North of South America.
The Northern Pintail male has a distinctive chocolate brown head and a long white neck and white underparts. The white extends up in a thin line to the vack of the head. Back is grey/brown with black on the wings. Bill is black with bluish sides. It has distinctive long black center tail feathers giving it its name. The female (in top photo) is basically brown and buff and does not have the distinctive tail feathers.
Photos were taken at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in January 2011 and April 2012.
The Northern Shoveler (Scientific name - Anas clypeata) is a medium sized duck found in wetlands throughout North America. The species has a distinctive spoon like bill that has comblike edges to filter food from water. They migrate South as far as Northern South America. This species is also found in Europe, Africa and South Asia. It is commonly referred to as Shoveler.
They have has a long dark spoon shaped bill, dark in colour in males and more grey and orange in females. The male has an iridescent green head, white chest and rusty brown sides. Back is darker and they display more green near the tail. The female is mostly brown in colour.
Three top photos were taken in March 2013 at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, B.C. Bottom two photos taken at Mill Lake, Abbotsford, B.C. in February 2015,
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| Female |
The Wood Duck (Scientific name - Aix sponsa) is the most colourful duck in North America. It is a medium sized duck that breeds in the Southern part of Canada and Northern U.S.A. While the majority of the species migrate South for the winter, a high percentage of those in the Pacific Flyway are year round residents.
The adult males are the most colourful with red eyes and multicoloured iridescent plumage. The female is mainly brown with a distinctive white eye ring.
All the photos were taken at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The top two photos in April 2012, the third photo in August 2012 and the bottom photo of the juvenile in January 2011.
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| Juvenile |
The Ring Necked Duck (Scientific Name - Aythya collaris)is a medium sized diving duck that frequents fresh water areas. It can be found across Canada and migrates as far South as Mexico and Central America.
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| Male |
The male (left) is distinguished by its golden eye and the chestnut brown ring around its neck
The female (below) is less colourful and has a white ring around her eye.
Both the male and female have white rings around their bill.
Photos taken at the George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in May of 2013,
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| Female |
Photos were taken at Mill Lake, Abbotsford, British Columbia in January 2014. 
The Northern Pintail male has a distinctive chocolate brown head and a long white neck and white underparts. The white extends up in a thin line to the vack of the head. Back is grey/brown with black on the wings. Bill is black with bluish sides. It has distinctive long black center tail feathers giving it its name. The female (in top photo) is basically brown and buff and does not have the distinctive tail feathers.
They have has a long dark spoon shaped bill, dark in colour in males and more grey and orange in females. The male has an iridescent green head, white chest and rusty brown sides. Back is darker and they display more green near the tail. The female is mostly brown in colour. 
The adult males are the most colourful with red eyes and multicoloured iridescent plumage. The female is mainly brown with a distinctive white eye ring. 
