1. Wood Duck
It is possible to see the wood duck in or around a body of water, as well as in or in a tree, depending on its coloration. When it comes to raising their young, these ducks prefer to build their nests in abandoned tree holes since they love to be high and above the ground. If you’re fortunate enough to come across a wood duck nesting in a tree, don’t be scared if it suddenly leaps to the ground. This duck is capable of making lengthy jumps and escaping to the safer ground if it feels unsafe.
Because of its inherent beauty, the wood duck is one of the most colourful duck on the planet. With elaborate plumage that includes a glossy green crested head with white stripes, a chocolate breast with white specks, and red penetrating eyes, the male wood duck stands out among his peers. The female wood duck has a considerably more modest appearance, with a gray-brown body and a white speckled chest on the breast area. Its boxy form, large wings, and long broad tail are all characteristics shared by both sexes.
Wood ducks are most typically seen in small groups in Texas, where they avoid contact with other waterfowl and other wildlife. They may be found in ponds, small lakes, forested swamps, marshes, and streams as well as other bodies of freshwater. When swimming, the head of a wood duck jerks back and forth, similar to the way pigeons move their feet. While disturbed or when calling to one another, both the male and female wood ducks emit a loud “wheet-wheet” screaming sound.
2. Mallard
Mallards are certainly not a surprise to find on our list of ducks in Texas since these ducks are regularly seen throughout the state and are simple to distinguish from other duck species. Unlike the female mallard, male mallards have brilliant green heads and white collars around their necks. Their chests are dark brown, and their bills are yellow. Their rumps are white, and their tails are tipped with white. Female mallards are less flashy than other duck breeds, since they are mottled brown with orange or brown beak, similar to other duck varieties.
Both male and female mallards have additional wing feathers that are purple-blue in colour and are noticeable while the ducks are soaring or standing still on the ground. Mallards may be found all around Texas, and they are typically easy to locate if you look hard enough. The major reason mallards are so common in Texas and other parts of the country is that they have been not overly fearful of humans. Mallards may be found in ponds and lakes all around Texas, and they have even been seen in backyard pools on occasion
3. American Wigeon
The fact that American wigeons are timid ducks means that you’ll be most likely to see them on small, calm bodies of water in Texas and in distant marshes. Ducks with compact bodies that float low in the water are called scaups. Despite the fact that male American wigeons are mostly brown in color, they have a distinguishing green strip of colour behind their eyes and a white crown on top of their heads, which distinguishes them from other birds.
Female American wigeons are far less flashy than their male counterparts, and their bodies are entirely brown with grayish-colored heads. Both males and females have small bills that they utilize to easily pull grass off the ground. If you want to get up up and personal with American wigeons, you’ll need to be quiet and cautious while approaching these ducks since they are often startled. Listening is the most accurate method of identifying this duck breed. Male American wigeons make a “whew-whew-whew” sound that is similar to a kazoo, whilst female American wigeons make a loud quack sound.
4. Northern Shoveler
Many people wrongly believe that northern shovelers and mallards are the same bird since the two kinds are visually similar. However, upon closer study, the northern shoveler’s beak is significantly different from that of a mallard, being significantly broader and bigger.
Because of its big spoon-shaped beak, the northern shoveler lives up to its name, as this duck utilizes it to dig for food in the muck and sand with which it is familiar. This duck enjoys eating small crustaceans, mollusks, and a wide variety of bugs of various kinds. In addition, the bill has dozens of small projections on the margins that allow it to filter the dust and dirt out of its prey as it is eating.
Male with green heads and black backs have reddish-brown flanks and a large black beak with yellow eyes. Female northern shovelers have green heads and black backs and reddish-brown flanks. In most cases, the females are brown in color, with the exception of an occasional bluish spot on the shoulder area if you look closely. In addition, the females have the same broad bills as the males, but their bills are brownish in color rather than black like their male counterparts.
Male northern shovelers produce a guttural sound, and female northern shovelers make a nasally quack sound. It is not uncommon to see large groups of northern shovelers swimming in lakes together in order to help stir up food for themselves. If you ever come across a flock of big-billed ducks on a Texas lake that appears to be having a good time swimming about in circles, you’ll most likely be looking at a flock of northern shovelers seeking for their next meal, according to the Texas Wildlife Department.
5. Lesser Scaup
In addition to its modest size, the lesser scaup is distinguished by an inconspicuous crest of feather at the back of its head. With a short neck, bright golden eyes, and a blueish beak, this duck is a delight to see. The males are black and white with a purple shine on their heads, and their bodies are black and white. Unlike the males, the females have a mainly brown body with a darker brown head that has a white spot close to the bill.
A diving duck, lesser scoups may be seen in large groups along lakes, marshes, and rivers across Texas. They are frequently seen in groups with other duck varieties. Lesser Scaups do not make a lot of noise. While courting, males make a low, weak gurgling sound, while females make a low-pitched guttural “brtt-brrtt” sound, which is similar to a low-pitched guttural “brrtt.”
Adult teals feed mostly on zooplankton such as mollusks, insects, and crustaceans, as well as on aquatic plants and seeds on occasion. They’re frequently spotted foraging in shallow water, propelling themselves underwater with their feet, as shown in the video above.
6. Northern Pintail
When a flock of northern pintails is in flight, it’s simple to spot them because their long, pointed tails and lengthened necks make them stand out from the rest of the ducks. The male of this duck breed has a grey body with white patches on the breast and throat, as well as a reddish-brown head and beak. In contrast to the male, the female has a tan head and a brown body that is mainly brown.
Considering that northern pintails are shy and dislike being around humans, the best spot to seek for them is in secluded ponds, lakes, and marshland areas. Although these ducks seek for food around the shoreline, they like to stay near to the borders of the water, where they may conceal themselves among the plants while foraging for food. Northern pintails can be seen on land since these ducks prefer to scavenge for leftover grains in fields, where they can be found looking for food. The male makes a whistling sound, whilst the female makes a quacking sound. These ducks are excellent fliers, and when flying, they may achieve faster speeds to 46 miles per hour or even more.
7. Green-Winged Teal
They are little, dabbling ducks with short necks and small beak that are found in the ponds and wetlands. A faint white vertical stripe extending from the top of the head to the shoulder distinguishes males from females. A large green swoop runs from the eye to the back of the neck on the males’ heads, which are dark reddish-brown. A yellow streak runs along the tail of the females, which is mostly brown.
Green-winged teals may be found in Texas’ coastal marshes and rice fields, among other places. These ducks eat a variety of foods, including grasses, aquatic insects, mollusks, crustaceans, and tadpoles, among other things. These ducks may also be seen in farm fields, where they graze on seeds, wheat, oats, and buckwheat, among other things. During courting and when attempting to divert predators’ attention, female green-winged teals emit a harsh quacking sound that is repeated repeatedly. They make a distinct whistling cry while wooing females and a continuous quacking noise when predators are in the vicinity when they are hunting.
8. Blue-Winged Teal
An adult male blue-winged teal may be distinguished by the bluish colour of his head, which has a white band in front of one of his eyes. Also having black wings and bills, the males have predominantly brown bodies with black dots on them, with black patches on their wings. In colour, the females are predominantly brown with a dark line behind the eye and a patch of dark brown on the top of their heads.
Whenever these ducks fly, their blue wing patch, which is only apparent when they are flying, gives them the name “blue-winged teal.” In shallow marshes all around Texas, you may find these ducks feeding on grasses, aquatic insects, mollusks, and tadpoles, among other things. Blue-winged Teals are not likely to be seen in an agricultural area since they like to graze near water where they may find food.
During the winter, these ducks may travel all the way to South America, where they spend the winter months. Male blue-winged tails make a loud high whistling sound during mating and when disturbed, whilst the female makes loud quacking sounds. These ducks are tiny, have a quick flight, and are not fond of being in close proximity to humans.
9. Cinnamon Teal
Yes, you are correct in your assumption the cinnamon teals are cinnamon-colored. The male cinnamon teal has a cinnamon-colored body, a thick, long black beak, and crimson eyes, all of which are characteristic of the species. The female is mottled brown on the outside and has black eyes and a huge black bill on the inside. When in flight, the male cinnamon teal flaunts beautiful blue and green patterns on its wings, which are especially noticeable in the winter.
Teals such as these are frequently spotted in vast marshes in Texas, where they congregate at the edge of the lake and forage among the reeds. These ducks consume a wide variety of plant material, aquatic insects, and small crustaceans. Cinnamon teals like to congregate with their own species and avoid mixing with other ducks. If a female has hatchlings, she will defend them from incoming predators by appearing to have a damaged wing, allowing herself appear to be easy prey for the predator to capture. During courting and to warn off predators, both the male and female make a screechy quacking sound.
10. Gadwal
Although gadwalls are abundant in Texas, they are much more difficult to detect than flashy mallards, who are easily distinguished by their bright colors. They have patterned feathers on their bodies that are a mixture of greys, brown, and blacks with fair skinned scales on the tips of their wings and tails. The males have brown heads and grey or black bills, just like the females.
Gadwalls are similar in appearance to female mallards, except their feathers are a patchy brown hue, and their beak are a dark orange red and black color. Male gadwalls are similar in appearance to male mallards. When they’re flying, you can notice a white patch on the underside of their wings, which is present on both sexes. Gadwalls are more likely to be found near little ponds that have a lot of foliage. Because they are not as human-friendly as mallards, you are unlikely to find these ducks swimming in a local pool…
One fascinating fact about gadwalls is whenever diving ducks appear on the surface of the water, these ducks have a tendency to steal their food. Ganders produce strange burp-like noises when they are males. In the event that you believe you have heard ducks burping on or near a body of water, there are most likely gadwalls in the vicinity.
