Birds of BC Identification

Common name, identifying features

Great White Fronted Goose, black speckles on belly and white feathering at base of the bill (juveniles lack these traits

Common name, identifying features, where to find

Snow goose, white body with black wing tips and pink beak with black grinning patch, spring and fall migrant in interior

Common name, identifying features, where to find

Canada goose/Cackling goose, black neck with white chin strap/rounded crown and stubby bill, common/uncommon migrants October through May

Common name, identifying features

Tundra swan, forehead feathers form rounded border with bill between eyes, often (but not always) yellow patch in front of eye

Common name, identifying features

Trumpeter swan, forehead feathers come to a point at bill base, smoother less rounded crown

Common name, identifying features

Wood duck (breeding male), drooping crest, green, black and white head, red ring at base of beak and around eye

Common name, identifying features

Wood duck, white ring around eyes pointed in the rear

Common name, identifying features

American Wigeon (male), green patch behind eye, white or beige forehead, pinkish brown back and flanks, white flank patches and black undertail

Common name, identifying features

Eurasian Wigeon, dark reddish brown head (rufous), yellowish forehead, grey back and flanks

Common name, identifying features

American Wigeon (female), greyish brown head, brown breast and flanks, white belly

Common name, identifying features

Eurasian wigeon (female), cinnamon brown head, brown back (as opposed to male’s grey), white belly

Common name, Identifying features

Mallard (female), mottled brown, dark feather line through eye, orange/dusky bill

Common name, identifying features

Gadwall, squarish head, orange legs, white belly, square white patch on speculum of wing. Male = variegated grey, black rear end, dark grey bill. Female = mottled brown and white, orange sides to bill

Common name, identifying features

Blue winged teal, long wide dark bill, pale blue forewing patch, yellow/orange legs. Male = slate grey head, bold white face crescent and flank patch

Common name, identifying features

Blue winged teal (female), pale diffuse facial area behind bill, mottled brown

Common name, identifying features

Cinnamon teal (male), deep cinnamon red throughout, red eyes, black undertail

Common name, identifying features

Cinnamon teal (female), long wide dark bill, mottled brown with plain brown head

Common name, identifying features

Northern shoveler (male), large spatulate bill, green head with yellow eyes, white breast and cinnamon sides

Common name, identifying features

Northern shoveler, large spatulate bill with orange sides, mottled brown body

Common name, identifying features

Northern pintail, grey bill, long pointed tail, (Male) = brown head, white breast with white stripes up the neck, long pointed central tail feathers

Common name, identifying features

Northern pintail, plain pale brown head and neck, central tail feathers pointed up