Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") poecilorhyncha ("pied bill")

Three adult Indian Spot-billed Duck (subspecies A. p. haringtoni) at Florican Grasslands, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Anas poecilorhyncha haringtoni
Weight: 790-1500g  /  Length: 55-63cm  /  Wingspan: 83-95cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The South Asian equivalent to the Eastern Spot-billed Duck I first encountered in Japan, the Indian is a more striking bird with more contrasting, patterned plumage and a bright red face patch.  Unfortunately, all this was kind of lost on me as the only birds I saw were in flight at the Florican Grasslands, which probably makes this the very first species of duck I've seen only in flight.  Generally, they are apparently fairly secretive birds that avoid large sections of open water, which is probably a factor in why I only saw these ones that had been flushed.

Related Species: 
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: A. p. haringtoni, A. p. poecilorhyncha

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer: ទាកាបព្រៃ ("Wild duck")

A locally reasonably common resident

 - Seen at Florican Grassland Reserve

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Baikal Teal (Anas formosa)

OTHER NAMES: Formosa Teal, Spectacled Teal, Bimaculate Duck, Squawk Duck

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") formosa ("beautiful")

Adult male Baikal Teal (Sibrionette formosa) at Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire - April 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 360-520g  /  Length: 68-78cm  /  Wingspan: 65-75cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List - Least Concern

The Baikal Teal is one of the rarest of all ducks to turn up in the UK, on the assumption this individual is accepted (and apparently signs are good for that) it will be only the 6th ever in Britain.  Normally, I'm not much of a twitcher, in regards to rare species outside places I can easily access but in this case I made an exception, the Baikal Teal is in my opinion one of the most attractive duck species, plus I have always found Lake Baikal, the place it is named after, fascinating - the deepest lake in the world which contains 20% of the worlds unfrozen fresh water.  Despite being in the middle of Asia it also has its own seal species.  Anyway as a result I decided to go and see this as having the opportunity to do so, and comparatively near me is very rare.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An ultra-rare vagrant, with under seven records ever 

 - A single vagrant male at Fen Drayton .

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha)

OTHER NAMES: Chinese Spot-billed Duck

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") zonorhyncha ("band billed")

Two Adult Oriental Eastern Spot-billed Dove (Anas zonorhyncha) at Arashiyama, Japan - July 2013

Local Name (Japan): Karugamo (カルガモ) - "Light wildduck"
Weight: 790-1500g  /  Length: 55-63cm  /  Wingspan: 83-95cm
ABSENT FROM UK / IUCN Red List Least Concern

The Eastern Spot-billed Duck is a close relation of the Mallard, only recently split from the rest of the Spot-billed Ducks.  It is common in Japan, along with the Mallard being the most common duck throughout the year being found on rivers and ponds  They are a fairly drab duck throughout the year, with the main colour on the plumage coming from the blue patch on the wings, all else being brown and cream.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

JAPAN - Japanese - カルガモ  /  Karugamo  ("Light wildduck")

Common resident of water based habitats. 

 - KYOTO/OSAKA 2013 TRIP: Common along the rivers of Kyoto and Arashiyama

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)

OTHER NAMES: Teal

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") carolinesis ("of Carolina")

Adult male Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) at Eyebrook Reservoir, Rutland  - January 2012

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 320-340g  /  Length: 34-38cm  /  Wingspan: 52-59cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Not Evaluated

The Green-winged Teal is the North American equivelant of our Eurasian Teal, and for the most part looks incredibly similar.  It is one of the more regular American vagrants, and so can compared to many, be picked up fairly easily if you happen to catch a report of one.  It is however, superficially very similar to the European species, and the feature to look out for is that vertical white stripe below it's shoulder, and a lack of a white stripe running along the wing. 

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: None - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A regular vagrant from North America.

 - A single individual associating with Common Teal at Eyebrooke Reservoir in January 2012. 

UNITED STATES 
Found throughout.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in  Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

American Wigeon (Anas americana)

OTHER NAMES: American Widgeon, Baldpate
Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") americana ("American")

Adult female or male in eclipse plumage American Wigeon (Anas Americana) at Anchorage, Alaska - August 2024

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 500-1300g  /  Length: 42-59cm  /  Wingspan: 76-91cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The American Wigeon is as the name suggests, the North American equivelant of the Eurasian Wigeon. The male is a fairly attractive bird with a yellow head with a striking green mask which covers each eye and runs down the back of the neck. They are fairly regular vagrants to Europe, where I saw my first individual, though as the name suggests, their resident range is North America.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare vagrant from North America.

 - A single bird seen at Rutland Water in October 2011 associating with a number of Eurasian Wigeon

UNITED STATES - Breeds in Alaska and North West Lower 48, Winters in South and most of the Coast
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Alaska

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Garganey (Anas querquedula)

OTHER NAMES: Cricket Teal

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") querquedula (duck mentioned by Varro and Columella)

Adult male Garganey (Anas queruedula) at Summer Leys Reserve, Northants - March 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 300-400g  /  Length: 37-41cm  /  Wingspan: 59-67cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

After the Gadwall, possibly one of the most drably coloured duck species found in the UK. The male is primarily notable for the prominent white stripe over its eye, while the female is a rather forgettable brown. Perhaps the rarest and most secretive of UK Ducks - only around a hundred pairs breed in the UK a year, and those that do are quite secretive. They are also barely bigger than a teal, so finding them is potentially the hardest of all British freshwater Ducks.  They do seem to turn up fairly regularly on passage, so being quick on the uptake of reports in the Spring and Autumn may be the best bet for seeing them.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: none - monotypic

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare Summer migrant and breeding species (14-90 pairs)

 - Seen at Summerleys in May 2011 and March 2022

SPAIN - Spanish - Cerceta carretona ("Marbled Teal")

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A single bird seen fleetingly at Laguna Navaseca

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

OTHER NAMES: Grey Duck, Rodge, Sand Wigeon

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") strepera ("noisy")

Adult male Gadwall (subspecies A. s. strepera) at Rutland Water, Rutland - February 2016

Featured Subspecies: Anas stepera strepera
Weight: 550-900g  /  Length: 58cm  /  Wingspan: 84-95cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Gadwall are another of our ducks which, while present throughout the year, really appear in numbers during the Winter. They are a little smaller than a mallard, and arguably the least colourful of all of our ducks - the male is grey and brown while the female resembles a female mallard with the blue feathers on the wing replaced with white ones. That being said, it is quite a smart little bird. Definitely easier looked for in the Winter, probably on decent sized bodies of water.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: A. s. strepera, A. s. couesi (extinct)

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (690-1730 pairs) and and widespread Wintering species (25,000 birds)

 - Seen at Rutland Water, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Eyebrook Reservoir.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus,IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

OTHER NAMES: Pintail

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") acuta ("sharp pointed")

Adult male Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) at Rutland Water, Rutland - February 2016

Featured Subspecies: N/A

Weight: 500-1450g  /  Length: 50-65cm  /  Wingspan: 80-95cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The pintail is mostly a winter migrant - it breeds in far northern locations such as Iceland, Greenland and Scandinavia before heading south to the UK and their other Wintering grounds.  There is apparently a small breeding population, but generally it is going to be far easier to locate once they have migrated in. The male is quite a striking duck, and it gets its name from (not very surprisingly) its long thin tail, which often sticks directly upright when it is dabbling for food. Look out for it in groups of other ducks in Winter - generally for best views you'll need a hide close to the water which in optimal conditions, will have them feeding very close by.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding resident (9-33 pairs) and Common Winter Visitor (29,000 birds)

 - Seen in Winter at sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes,Pitsford Reservoir and Eyebrook Reservoir.

UNITED STATES 
Found throughout.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in  Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Common Teal (Anas crecca)

OTHER NAMES: Teal, Eurasian Teal

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") crecca (from Swedish name "Kricka" for species)

Adult male Common Teal (subspecies  A. c. crecca) at Rutland Water, Rutland - March 2022

Featured Subspecies: Anas crecca crecca
Weight: 320-340g  /  Length: 20-30cm  /  Wingspan: 53-59cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Teal is one of the comparatively more common ducks, at least as far as suitable habitat is available. It can frequently be seem at the waters edge feeding in the mud. This makes it relatively easy to photograph if the shoreline is relatively close to wherever you are viewing them from which helps, given that they are very small for a duck and thus you need to be slightly closer.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: A. c. crecca, A. c. nimia

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Uncommon breeding species (1,600-2,800 pairs) and locally common Wintering species (220,000 pairs)

 - Seen in Winter at sites including Rutland Water, Oare Marshes, Elmley Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir and Eyebrook Reservoir. 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)

OTHER NAMES: Wigeon, Widgeon, Whew-duck

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") penelope (the mythic Penelope)

Four adult Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) - three male, one female, with Eurasian Coot at Oare Marshes, Kent - March 2012

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 500-1000g  /  Length: 42-52cm  /  Wingspan: 71-80cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The wigeon is a common duck, primarily present in Winter in which it arrives in the UK in numbers exceeding 400,000. It can often be found in coastal marshland in large numbers during this time, although it can also be found on many decently sized bodies of water. Another slightly shy duck that tends to stay a reasonable distance from easy viewing, and thus may be slightly more difficult to photograph.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas 
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Rare breeding species (300-500 pairs), locally abundant Wintering bird (450,000 birds) 

 - Seen at sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Elmley Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits and Eyebrook Reservoir and Oare Marshes

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

OTHER NAMES: Shoveler

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") clypeata ("shield bearing")

Juvenile Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) at Kensington Gardens, London - March 2010

Mixed group of adult Northern Shoveller (Anas clypeata) with Grey Plover and Common Teal at Oare Marshes, Kent - January 2013

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 600g  /  Length: 48cm  /  Wingspan: 76cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Shoveler is probably one of my favourite ducks, it has a lovely colour scheme combined with that comically enormous bill that it uses to filter the water for small invertebrates using filter like structures on the inside of the beak.   They are also one of the largest ducks in Europe, making them fairly distinctive for that alone.  While they will be most numerous on invertebrate rich and fairly undisturbed bodies of water, you can actually get some close views of them in certain city parks of them if you are lucky.

Related Species: 

Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Anas 
Subspecies: none - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Scarce breeding species (300-1000 pairs) and locally common Wintering species (18,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir and Eyebrook Reservoir.

SPAIN - Scarce and Local Resident

 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: A few seen at Laguna Navaseca.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

OTHER NAMES: N/A

Latin Etymology: Anas ("duck") platyrhynchos ("broad billed")

Adult male Mallard (subspecies A. p. platyrhynchos) at Geddington, Northants - April 2010

Featured Subspecies: Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos
Weight: 700-1600g  /  Length: 50-65cm  /  Wingspan: 81-98cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The mallard is almost certainly the most recognisable duck in the UK, if not much of the wider world, and is also the most common. It can be found on many rivers, ponds, lakes and assorted other bodies of water - it also is likely to be easily bribed to very close views by use of feed if in a public sort of location where they are used to humans.  It is also the genetic base stock of almost all domestic ducks, and as such you will likely also encounter a lot of "muddy mallards" - ones where various domestic breeds have bred together producing some fairly variable result.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes 
Family: Anatidae 
Genus: Anas
Subspecies: A. p. platyrhynchos, A. p. conboschas, A. p. diazi  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Locally abundant breeding resident (61,000-146,000 pairs) and common Winter visitor (719,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Rainham Marshes, Regent's Park, Kensington Gardens, Pitsford Reservoir, Ditchford Gravel Pits, Eyebrook Reservoir and Geddington.

JAPAN - Japanese - マガモ / Ma-gamo ("True Wildduck")

A fairly common resident.

 - KYOTO 2013 TRIP: A few seen on the Kamo River in Central Kyoto.

UNITED STATES 
Found throughout.
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in  Berkeley

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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