Ducks that typically feed in 10-15 feet of water. These ducks dive down to feed and may stay under the water for a significant period of time feeding off the bottom. In takeoff, diving ducks often run across the water before becoming airborne.
CANVASBACK Large duck, up to 3 pounds, 18-21 inches long. Male (left): Body mostly white. Black chest and rump. Head and neck are burnished red. Forehead slopes into black bill. Red eyes. Grayish wing with pearl gray speculum. Feet stretch beyond tail in flight. Female (right): Gray-brown body. Head, neck and rump are darker brown. Wings similar to male.
REDHEAD Medium-sized duck, 2 – 2½ pounds, 20-22 inches long. Male (left): Body mostly gray, chest and rump are black. White belly. Head is rusty red, bill is gray with a white band towards the tip. Wings are gray-brown. Pearl gray speculum. Female (right): Gray-brown body, white belly. Pale or white around eye and base of bill. Both bill and wing are similar to males.
LESSER SCAUP Medium-sized duck, 1¾ – 2 pounds, 15-18 inches long. Male (left): Grayish back, white sides and belly. Chest and rump black. Head is a purplish black. Bill is light blue, short and broad. Wings are dark brown with white flecking. Speculum is white. Female (right): dull brown with white belly. White patch at base of bill. Bill and wings are similar to male.
RING-NECKED DUCK Medium-sized duck, 1½ – 2 pounds, 16-18 inches long. Male (left): Back, chest and rump black. White belly, head is blackish-purple with faint chestnut ring around neck. Bill is gray with white band at base and towards tip. Wings are dark gray. Speculum is pearl gray. Female (right): blackish-brown back. Brown head, neck and sides. White belly. White eye ring, patch at base of bill. Bill and wing are similar to male.
