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Washington › Hunting › Game Bird Hunting › Duck Species Identification

Duck Species Identification

Last Updated: October 3, 2025

Top Ducks Harvested

These four dabbling species account for 80% of the total harvest statewide.

Mallard

Illustration of a pair of mallards in flight, showing the male with a green head and the female with mottled brown feathers, a common sight across North America. — Male and female mallards in flight — one of the most recognizable and widespread duck species in North America.

Green-winged Teal

Illustration of a pair of green-winged teal ducks in flight, with the male showing a chestnut head and green eye patch, and the female in mottled brown plumage. — Green-winged teal pair in flight — the male with striking chestnut and green markings, and the female in subtle brown tones.

Northern Pintail

3-bird daily limit.

Illustration of a pair of northern pintail ducks in flight, with the male showing a sleek brown head, white neck, and long pointed tail, and the female in mottled brown plumage. — Northern pintail ducks in flight — the male with a long pointed tail and crisp markings, alongside the female’s subtle brown tones.

American Wigeon

Illustration of a pair of American wigeon ducks in flight, with the male showing a white crown, green eye patch, and pinkish-brown body, and the female in mottled gray-brown plumage. — American wigeon ducks in flight — the drake with a striking white crown and green eye patch, alongside the hen’s softer brown plumage.

Diving duck Species

Species-specific bag limits apply—see Migratory Game Bird Seasons.

All 5 species occur within Washington wetlands and open waters.

Scaup season closed Oct. 11-31 Statewide.

Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, and Redhead open Oct. 11-19 & Oct. 22 - Jan. 25.

Note: Scaup are included in allowable harvest species during Youth and Youth, Veteran and Active Military Special Hunt Dates.

Scaup

Closed Oct. 11-31 Statewide. 2-bird daily limit.

White wing stripe.

Illustration of a pair of scaup ducks in flight, with the male showing a dark head, chest, and white sides, and the female with brown plumage and a white patch near the bill. — Scaup ducks in flight — the drake with bold black-and-white contrast and the hen with her distinctive brown feathers and white bill patch.

Ring-Necked Duck

Gray Wing Stripe. "Gray is OK".

Illustration of two ring-necked ducks in flight, with the male showing a dark head, black chest, and white sides, and the female with brown plumage and a pale eye ring. — Ring-necked ducks in flight — the drake with striking black-and-white contrast and the hen with soft brown feathers and a distinct eye ring.

Canvasback

2-bird daily limit.

Illustration of two canvasback ducks in flight, with the male showing a red head, black chest, and white body, and the female in brown and gray tones. — Canvasback ducks in flight — the drake with a striking red head and white body, and the hen in soft brown and gray plumage.

Redhead

2-bird daily limit.

Illustration of two redhead ducks in flight, with the drake showing a red head, black breast, and gray body, and the hen in mottled brown tones. — Redhead ducks in flight — the male with a bold red head and gray body, and the female in soft brown plumage.

Drawings courtesy of Ducks Unlimited

Other Common Duck Species

Gadwall

Illustration of a pair of gadwall ducks in flight, showing the drake with gray and black plumage and the hen with mottled brown feathers, both displaying their distinct white wing patches. — Gadwall ducks in flight — males have gray and black plumage with a white wing patch, while females are mottled brown with the same distinctive wing markings.

Northern Shoveler

Illustration of a pair of northern shoveler ducks in flight, with the drake showing a green head, white chest, and chestnut sides, and the hen with mottled brown plumage. Both have distinctive wide, spoon-shaped bills. — Northern shoveler ducks in flight — males are easily recognized by their green head, white chest, and chestnut sides, while females are mottled brown. Both feature the species’ signature spoon-shaped bill.

Bufflehead

Illustration of a pair of bufflehead ducks in flight, with the drake displaying a striking white patch on the back of its dark head and contrasting black-and-white plumage, and the hen showing brown-gray feathers with a distinct small white cheek patch. — Bufflehead ducks in flight — males stand out with bold black-and-white markings and a large white head patch, while females are brown-gray with a small white cheek spot.

Wood Duck

Illustration of a pair of wood ducks in flight, featuring the male with iridescent green, purple, and white plumage and the female with a gray-brown body and distinct white eye ring. — Wood ducks in flight — males are striking with colorful iridescent plumage, while females are more subtle in gray-brown with a white eye ring.

Ruddy Duck

Illustration of a pair of ruddy ducks in flight, showing the male with bright chestnut plumage, sky-blue bill, and black-and-white head, alongside the female with mottled brown feathers and a faint facial stripe. — Ruddy ducks in flight — males stand out with chestnut bodies, blue bills, and bold head markings, while females are more camouflaged in brown with subtle facial stripes.

Sea Duck Species

Species-specific bag limits apply—see Migratory Game Bird Seasons.

Mandatory Harvest Report requirement in western Washington—due February 15th.

Scoter

3-bird daily limit.

Illustration of surf scoters in flight, featuring a male with striking black plumage, colorful orange-and-white bill, and white head patches, alongside females with brown feathers and faint facial markings. — Surf scoters in flight — males are recognized by their bold black coloring and bright patterned bills, while females are brown with subtle face markings, common in coastal waters.

Illustration of white-winged scoters in flight, showing a male with dark plumage, bright orange bill, and distinct white wing patches, alongside a brown female with the same white wing markings. — White-winged scoters in flight — sea ducks recognized by their bold white wing patches, with males displaying dark feathers and orange bills, and females showing a brown plumage with the same wing flash.

Illustration of black scoters in flight, with the male showing all-black plumage and a bright orange knob on the bill, and the female displaying brown feathers with pale cheek patches. — Black scoters in flight — sea ducks recognized by the male’s striking orange bill knob and the female’s lighter brown plumage with distinctive pale cheeks.

Goldeneye

3-bird daily limit.

Illustration comparing Barrow’s goldeneye drake, common goldeneye drake, common eclipse drake, and hens of both species, showing differences in plumage and markings for waterfowl identification. — Barrow’s and common goldeneye identification guide — drakes, eclipse drakes, and hens illustrated side by side to highlight key plumage differences for waterfowl hunters and birdwatchers.

Long-Tailed Duck

2-bird daily limit.

Illustration of long-tailed ducks showing a summer drake, winter drake, and hen, highlighting seasonal plumage changes and identification features for waterfowl hunters and birdwatchers. — Long-tailed duck identification guide — summer drake, winter drake, and hen shown with distinct plumage patterns to help waterfowl hunters and bird enthusiasts recognize the species year-round.

Harlequin Duck

Closed to harvest statewide, except for 52 permits (see Migratory Game Bird Season Summary for details).

Illustration of a pair of Harlequin Ducks in flight, showing the male drake with striking blue, white, and chestnut plumage and the brown female hen for waterfowl identification. — Harlequin Ducks — drake and hen in flight, highlighting the drake’s bold plumage and the hen’s subtle brown tones for easy waterfowl identification.

Other Duck Species Not Depicted

Cinnamon Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Eurasian Wigeon
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser