| American
Wigeon |
 Identification
tips:
Male has white patch on top of head with iridescent green checkered
pattern on sides of head. Wings have green speculum with white shoulder
patch. Foot color is gray.
This
elegant puddle duck is common
throughout Arizona and prefers
wetlands with abundant aquatic
vegetation. Often wigeon can
be found using shorelines of
wetlands where they graze on
tender grass shoots. This bird
can be found in large flocks
of 35 plus birds seeking out
resting and feeding areas along
Arizona rivers, lakes and stock
tanks. Wigeon are excellent to
decoy and are less wary then
mallard and pintail. |
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| Blue-winged
Teal |
 Identification
tips:
Similar to the cinnamon teal both sexes have a powder blue shoulder
patch on the wing. The male has a white crescentcheek patch near
the bill. Both bill and foot color is dark gray to black.
Blue-winged
teal are early migrants to Arizona
and often migrate further south
out of state by October. Early
season hunters will bag a few
Blue winged teal which are often
confused with cinnamon teal.
The hens of the two species are
virtually indistinguishable in
the field. |
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| Bufflehead |
 Identification
tips:
The males of this duck appear to be black and white. The heads have
an iridescent puplish/green heads. The female and immature males
have a dull gray head with a white cheek patch. Foot color can be
bluish gray to nearly pink.
Bufflehead
are common throughout the state.
The smallest of the divers, bufflehead
prefer open water habitats with
aquatic submergent vegetation
and aquatic invertebrates. The
mature male is readily picked
up, as it's white breast stands
out a quite a distance. This
fast flyer often challenges the
best of wing shooters as it fly's
low over water. Buffleheads will
remain on high country water
often keeping potholes open even
though ice is choking in. Many
bufflehead are found on Arizona's
lakes and reservoirs and this
duck will be attracted to most
decoy spreads. |
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| Canada
Geese |
 Identification
tips:
The male and female canada geese have the same appearance, but are
diferentiated by the smaller size of the female.
Canada geese
begin to arrive in Arizona in
good numbers along the Colorado
River in December. Other areas
with good numbers are the White
Mountains around Alpine and Saint
Johns. A large number of Canada
geese also reside near Payson
and Roosevelt Lake. Canada Geese
prefer to feed near their loafing
sites and select areas with green
grass forage and grain. These
birds are quite habitual and
will return to feeding areas
if not over harassed by humans.
Scout the area and set up decoys
pre dawn and you will be rewarded. |
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| Canvasback |
 Identification
tips:
Canvasbacks possess a long sloping black bill as well as black feet.
The wings are gray with white and gray vermiculation. The males have
a reddish brown head on a white /gray body.
This largest
of the Diving species of waterfowl
has preference for large open
water deep reservoirs and lakes.
Feeding on aquatic submergent
vegetation, the canvasback is
dependent on water quality that
allows light penetration and
growth of aquatic vegetation.
Canvasbacks usually appear later
in the season and will utilize
higher elevation waters up until
ice forces them south. |
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| Cinnamon Teal |
 Identification
tips:
Both sexes of this duck have a powder blue shoulder patch on the
wing. Males have a cinnamon color body with a bright red eye. Bills
of both sexes are dark gray with the foot color being yellow/orange.
The largest of the teal, cinnamon teal are early arrivers to the
state. The cinnamon color of the drakes is quite impressive with
a brilliant red eye. Cinnamon teal also nest in Northern Arizona
and can be found along most river courses where emergent aquatic
food plants exist. Large concentrations of cinnamon teal utilize
the mudflats of larger reservoirs such as San Carlos and Roosevelt
Lake. |
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| Common
Merganser |
 Identification
tips:
The male of the species has a brilliant orange/red bill with an iridescent
green head. The body appears white and black, but at closer look
has iridescent green color throughout. The feet are reddish orange.
The female has a reddish head with gray body. The bill is orange
with orange feet. Both male and female have serrated teeth like points
on the bill.
The largest of the mergansers, the common merganser is quite common
in Arizona. Found on nearly all reservoirs and river courses in the
State the merganser will dive for its food that consists of small
fish. The serrated bill on mergansers differentiates this duck from
other puddle and diving species. Due to its diet the palatability
of merganser flesh is questionable. |
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| Gadwall |
 Identification
tips:
Male has gray speckled head with a black rump patch. Both sexes have
a white speculum with a cinnamon colored shoulder patch. Foot color
yellow/orange.
Gadwall can be found throughout Arizona and can be identified as
the only puddle duck possessing a white speculum on the wing. This
duck is similar in size to pintail and usually prefer wetlands with
aquatic submergent vegetation. Gadwall typically resides in flocks
of less than 10 birds and decoy well. |
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| Green-winged
Teal |
 Identification
tips:
Male has a cinnamon colored head with a green stripe on the sides.
Both sexes have a green speculum on the wing. Bill and foot color
is gray to black.
Green wing teal the smallest of puddle ducks are common throughout
Arizona. They are early arrivers to the state and can be found along
river courses and reservoirs around the desert as early as September.
This fast flying species offers excellent wing shooting and also
decoys quite well. Although typically in flocks of ten or less, observations
of several hundred in on flock have been observed along the Gila
River. |
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| Mallard |
 Identification
tips:
Male has green head with olive green bill. Wings of both sexes have
purplish/blue speculum and white underside.
Mallards, the largest of Arizona's puddle ducks are common to Arizona.
Concentrations of mallards are typically found near agricultural
grain fields that are situated near wetlands or river courses. This
species nest throughout the high country of the state namely in the
White Mountains and Flagstaff area. Mallards are common on nearly
all stock tanks throughout the desert and mountain country. Mallards
typically return to feeding areas so scout your hunting area to locate
where the birds are feeding. A mallard call can be quite successful
in luring this bird to decoy spreads. |
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| Northern
Pintail |
 Identification
tips:
Male has chocolate brown head with a slender white strip along the
neck. The bill has powder blue strip on each side. Males have long
black pointed feather at tail. Wings of both sexes have bronze speculum
with gray underside. Foot color ranges from bluish gray to black.
Pintail usually begin arriving in Arizona in October and are found
on most of the states larger wetlands and lakes. This shallow water
feeder prefers large open water as opposed to small potholes or stock
tanks. Pintail are thought to be the wariest of puddle ducks requiring
excellent concealment by the hunter. Pintail whistles are quite effective
for attracting this duck into gunning range. Decoys are advisable
and the larger the spread the better. |
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| Northern
Shovler |
 Identification
tips:
Males have green head with light blue shoulder patches on the wings.
The bill of both sexes is spatulate (spoon shaped). The primary feathers
on the wings have white shafts. Foot color is yellow/orange.
Shovlers or "spoonies" as they are called prefer open water habitats
with invertebrates such as daphnia or midge larvae. Shovlers are
easily decoyed an often land in a decoy spread even if the hunter
is standing up taking a break. Shovlers can be found in large flocks
of 20 plus individuals and have a very characteristic "WHOOSH" as
they swoop out of the sky to land on a wetland. |
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| Redhead |
 Identification
tips:
Males have a reddish/brown head with a black chest. The body is gray
with gray blue foot color. The wings are gray with a dull speculum.
Redheads are common in Arizona and locally nest in the Flagstaff
and White Mountain regions. Slightly smaller than the canvasback
they occupy similar habitats. Redheads prefer deep water with aquatic
submergent vegetation and are usually found on larger reservoirs
and lakes. Red heads can be found in flocks of up to 25 individuals
and will decoy very well. These fast flyers will often appear out
of nowhere to inspect your decoy spread before turning and attempting
to land. |
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| Ring-necked
Duck |
 Identification
tips:
The backs of Ring-necked ducks are dark gray to black. The bill of
the male has a small ring around the tip. Close inspection will also
reveal a brown ring around the neck hence the name. Both sexes have
gray speculum with a tint of iridescnet green and gray feet.
"Ringies" as they're called are found throughout Arizona on a variety of wetland
habitats. Often found on stock tanks throughout the state, this small diver prefers
deeper open water areas. This duck often occurs in large flocks up to 50 birds.
They are fast flyers and will decoy well. |
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| Ruddy
Duck |
 Identification
tips:
During the fall and winter months this duck will appear a dull gray/brown.
The tail of both sexes has stiff characteristic that sticks up more
than out when the duck swims. The bills of both sexes appear somewhat
spatulate but not as obvious as the shovler.
Ruddy ducks are common in Arizona and will nest in some of the wetlands
in the high country. These ducks typically prefer to dive rather
than fly and hunters can usually approach the bird quite close before
it dives to the safety of the water world only to resurface out of
gunning range. This often overlooked duck as far as table fare can
be quite good. Ruddies are typically found on large open water habitats
and will form large flocks loafing on lakes and reservoirs during
the fall and winter months. |
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| Greater/Lesser
Scaup |
 Identification
tips:
Both scaup species have white speculums on the wings with it extending
out towards the primaries on the greater scaup. Also known as blue
bills the scaup have a blue bill. Foot color is gray/black. Scaup
have light colored backs with dark green/iridescent heads.
Both scaup species can
be found in Arizona and
utilize a variety of wetland
habitats. Typically found
on reservoirs and lakes
scaup feed on aquatic submergent
vegetation and invertebrate
animals. Scaup will also
utilize river courses in
Arizona and are often found
on stock tanks. This duck
will decoy easily and typically
will appear in small flocks
of less than 10. |
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