waterfowl ecology practical #3: ID, nest habits, and pairing

image quality is buns

Black bellied whistling duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)

Long-term monogamy

Cavity

Fulvous whistling duck (Dendrocygna bicolor)

Long-term monogamy

upland and overwater

Emperor goose

Long-term monogamy

upland

Snow goose

long-term monogamy

upland in vegetation

Ross’s goose (Chen rossii)

Long-term monogamy

colony nester on tundra lowlands

Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)

Long-term monogamy

emergent vegetation

tundra swan

long-term monogamy

uplands

greater-white fronted goose

long-term monogamy

lowlands to uplands

brant (Branta bernicula)

long term mono

coastal, grassy veg

Cackling goose

long term mono

grassy veg, tundra

Muscovy duck

seasonal mono

cavity

mallard

Seasonal mono

generalist, usually upland

Wood duck (Aix sponsa)

Seasonal mono

cavity

Blue-winged teal

seasonal mono

uplands, grasslands

Cinnamon teal

seasonal mono

uplands, grassland

Northern Shovler

seasonal mono

uplands, grasslands

Gadwall

seasonal mono

uplands, grasslands

American wigeon

seasonal mono

uplands, grasslands

Mexican duck (Anas diasi)

Seasonal mono

generalist, usually upland or grassland

Mottled duck

seasonal mono

high marshes

Northern pintail (Anas acuta)

Seasonal mono

uplands, grasslands

Green-winged teal

seasonal mono

uplands, grasslands

Canvasback

seasonal mono

overwater

Redhead

seasonal mono

upland, nest parasite

Ring-necked duck

seasonal mono

meadow, floating marsh

Greater scaup

seasonal mono

upland, grassland

lesser scaup

seasonal mono

upland, grassland, tundra, forest

Steller’s eider

seasonal mono

upland, tundra

Spectacled eider

seasonal mono

upland, wet meadow, tundra

King eider

seasonal mono

upland, tundra, favors islands

Common eider

seasonal mono

upland, tundra, islands when available

Harlequin duck

monogamous, leave breeding grounds separately but return together

upland, rocky island shores

Surf scoter

seasonal mono

upland, forests

White-winged scoter

seasonal mono

upland, prefers overhead cover

Black scoter

seasonal mono

uplands, open sites

long-tailed duck

seasonal mono

upland, tundra

bufflehead

seasonal mono

cavity

Common goldeneye

seasonal mono

cavity

Barrow’s goldeneye

seasonal mono

cavity

Hooded merganser

monogamy

cavity

Common merganser

seasonal mono

cavity or burrow in stumps

Red-breasted merganser

seasonal mono

sheltered uplands

Ruddy duck

polygynous

overwater

mating dance is called bubbling