Diving Ducks

What are Diving Ducks?

Diving ducks are ducks that go completely underwater to feed of invertebrates or plants

Tend to occupy deeper water than most other ducks

What are Sea Ducks?

Group of divers that occupy most saltwater and occasionally brackish water

Sea ducks nest on islands in coastal areas and spend winters on saltwater or near coastlines

What family are most diving/seaducks in?

Most are in the Anatidae family, some are in the Alcidae family

What sets diving/seaduck hunting apart from other duck hunting?

Diving/seaducks are harder to decoy

Canvasback

Range pretty much all over North America for parts of Northern Midwest and Southern Mexico

Nest in freshwater marshes and lakes

Particularly high numbers found above navigation dams in the Mississippi River

Occupy marshes, small ponds and bays

Migrate in the winter occupy deep water rivers and coastal bays

Redhead

Range pretty much all over the U.S. and into Canada and parts of Alaska except for a little bit of New England

Occupy saltwater marshes during nesting

During migration and in winter they are found in lakes

Ring-Necked Duck

Range pretty much all over North America

Found in freshwater marshes

Migration and winter found in a wide variety of habitats

Greater Scaup

Range pretty much all over North America except for the South West and Mexico

Nests near shallow lakes and ponds

Lesser Scaup

Range all over North America

Breeding season in brackish water

Popular game duck

Common Eider

Very Coastal in the Northern parts of North America

Most popular of the sea ducks

Winter on saltwater closer to shore

King Eider

Range in the Artic of North America and Eurasia

Nest on tundra near fresh and saltwater

Harlequin Duck

Range in the Yukon, BC, and Alaska and Coastal Maine

Hunted on in Alaska, BC, and Washington

Winter in rocky areas

Long-Tailed Duck

Range in New England, BC, Yukon, Alaska and the Tundra

Formerly known as the Oldsquaw

Hunted throughout it’s range

Surf Scoter

Range along the coast of the lower 48 and in the Artic of North America

Often called skunkhead

Very popular game duck

Black Scoter

Range in the North East and Alaska

Nest in boreal forests

Winter on rocky areas near shore

Fairly common

White-winged Scoter

Range in the the North East, Canada, and Great Lakes region

Known in Eurasia as Velvet Scoter

Winter along coastlines

Bufflehead

Range pretty much all over North America

Winter along sheltered coasts

Nest in cavities created by woodpeckers

Common Goldeneye

Range pretty much all over North America except Florida

Winter in shallow bays

Also a tree cavity nester

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Range on some of the west coast and Northern maine

Completely protected in Maine, but hunted in the west

Hooded Merganser

Range only in North America, Pretty much all over except for the South West

Not super popular game bird

Nest in tree cavities

Common Merganser

Range in a lot of North America except for the South East and Mexico

Winter on large lakes and reservoirs

Red-breasted Merganser

Range all over North America except for Mexico

Also in Eurasia

Winters on large lakes

Ruddy Duck

Range all over the United States, Mexico and a part of Canada

Winter in freshwater lakes