,,waterfowl ,,identification ,,guide ,published by ,the ,central ,flyway ,council ,,council ,,members ,colorado ,kansas ,montana ,nebraska ,new ,mexico ,north ,dakota ,oklahoma ,south ,dakota ,texas ,wyoming ,acknowledgments ,the ,central ,flyway ,council wishes to thank the ,atlantic ,flyway ,council for making available the illustrations and most of the text of this booklet4 ,the ,council also wishes to thank the many persons who assisted in preparation of this publication1 particularly the ,vermont ,fish and ,game ,commission and ,alan ,r4 ,munro1 the artist4 ,,printed ,,in ,u4,s4,a4 ,,by ,,the ,,lane ,,press4 ,,inc4 ,,burlington1 ,,vermont ,,contents ,council ,members #a ,acknowledgements #b ,foreword #e ,identification #f ,individual ,problems #g ,nonhunting ,enjoyments #h ,research and ,management #h ,flyway ,council ,approach #i ,your ,responsibility #aj ,parts of a ,duck #aa ,whistling ,swan #ab ,canada ,goose #ac ,snow ,goose #ad ,ross ,goose #ae ,white-,fronted ,goose #af ,blue ,goose #ag ,puddle or ,dabbling ,duck ,characteristics #ah ,mallard #ai ,black ,duck #bj ,mottled ,duck #ba ,new ,mexico ,duck #bb ,gadwall #bc ,pintail #bd ,green-,winged ,teal #be ,blue-,winged ,teal #bf ,cinnamon ,teal #bg ,american ,widgeon #bh ,shoveler #bi ,wood ,duck #cj ,harlequin ,duck #ca ,diving ,duck ,characteristics #cb ,redhead #cc ,ring-,necked ,duck #cd ,canvasback #ce ,greater ,scaup #cf ,lesser ,scaup #cg ,common ,goldeneye #ch ,barrow's ,goldeneye #ci ,bufflehead #dj ,white-,winged ,scoter #da ,fulvous ,tree ,duck #db ,black-,bellied ,tree ,duck #dc ,ruddy ,duck #dd ,hooded ,merganser #de ,common ,merganser #df ,double-,crested ,cormorant #dg ,common ,loon #dh ,horned ,grebe #di ,pied-,billed ,grebe #di ,western ,grebe #ej ,american ,coot #ea ,king ,rail #eb ,clapper ,rail #eb ,virginia ,rail #ec ,sora #ec ,common ,snipe 7,jacksnipe7 #ed ,waterfowler's ,code #ee ,,foreword ,the ,north ,american continent1 at the time of its discovery and early settlement1 had a waterfowl population which was one of its many wonders4 ,so far as the evidence shows1 no equal area of the earth's surface ever supported such vast numbers of so many different ducks and geese1 and this situation persisted to a time within the memory of living men4 ,long after the end of early settlement on this continent1 hunting was free and harvest unlimited4 ,but as the advancing tide of settlement reached into the north-central prairie states and provinces in the final years of the ,nineteenth ,century1 radical changes began4 ,from that time on ,north ,american waterfowl habitat began to deteriorate4 ,literally millions of acres of former nesting ground in the north have now been drained and put to the plow4 ,south of the breeding range1 not only agriculture1 but industrialization and urbanization also have steadily reduced available resting and wintering grounds4 ,the progressive decline in waterfowl numbers which followed these changes in land use led eventually to the scientific management of waterfowl4 ,spring shooting and market hunting were abolished in the second decade of this century4 ,ten years later the federal government undertook detailed regulation of migratory waterfowl so the annual harvest could be made proportional to the annual production4 ,this was accomplished through collective effort by ,state1 ,provincial and ,federal agencies of ,canada1 ,mexico and the ,united ,states to obtain scientific information4 ,in keeping with biological principles1 most of the restrictions on bag limit and means of taking have been used with some flexibility4 ,throughout the decline of all waterfowl populations some species have been underharvested4 ,these species have declined in about the same proportion as those species on which the bulk of the harvest occurred4 ,the ,central ,flyway ,council feels that a refinement in waterfowl management is possible by directing hunting pressure on these previously underharvested species4 ,this goal can only be accomplished through a knowledge of species identification by the waterfowl hunter4 ,this booklet is a start in that direction4 ,in recent years most waterfowl populations have made encouraging recoveries from the low point of the early #aicj's1 when disastrous drouths1 drainage and changing land use patterns took their toll4 ,still drainage continues1 and industrialization is further reducing the habitat4 ,hunting continues as a major sport1 however1 maximum utilization of all species must be accomplished if hunting is to be fostered at a reasonable level of freedom and enjoyment4 ,the very future of duck hunting depends upon a more effective partnership between regulatory agencies and the many thousands of gunners whom they serve4 ,the federal agency is charged by treaty and law with husbandry of the waterfowl resource4 ,the ,state agencies assist in the responsibility4 ,however1 they need the help of all sportsmen1 and particularly they need the understanding help of waterfowlers who know their birds and who keep abreast of current plans for management4 ,to foster this essential cooperation between agencies and gunners is a primary purpose of this booklet4 ,identification ,identification of birds in the field1 and particularly on the wing1 as ducks and geese are usually seen over decoys1 is easier than appears at first try4 ,the trick is to note1 in addition to shape and approximate size1 the general arrangement of light and dark areas in the plumage1 for nearly every species has its own distinctive pattern4 ,with practice1 the eye can be trained to pick out this pattern at a glance1 and within a short time recognition becomes automatic4 ,the illustrations which follow1 one for each important species of ,central ,flyway waterfowl1 make use of this practice of 8pattern recognition0 in the two or more flying birds at the top of the page4 ,actually in many cases recognition by flight pattern and flight characteristics will soon become evident4 ,in each drawing of ducks the flying female leads1 with the drake following1 for this is the usual order in a mated pair during winter1 and spring4 ,on the lower part of each page are shown enlarged heads1 adult male on the left1 female on the right1 with an immature head added when the difference is substantial1 or with certain details which further aid identification when the bird is in hand4 ,all ducks1 both flying pairs and heads1 are drawn in direct proportion to each other1 but geese1 because of their larger size1 are reduced one third from the duck proportion4 ,drawings of geese show only a single enlarged head on each plate because male and female geese are alike in color pattern4 ,finally1 some birds which are not 8waterfowl0 in the strict sense of the word1 but are nevertheless often seen1 are shown in the last few illustrations4 ,some of them 7loon1 grebe1 and cormorant71 although protected at all times1 are included because they are often mistakenly shot for waterfowl4 ,others 7rails1 coot1 and snipes7 are included because they occupy wet-land habitat along with ducks4 ,individual ,problems ,although 8pattern recognition0 simplifies the problem of identification for the waterfowler1 there are still several complications to be considered4 ,of these1 the most troublesome by far is the matter of moults4 ,the adult drakes of most species of ducks1 very soon after the hens begin to incubate eggs1 moult the bright body-feathers of their breeding dress and assume an 8eclipse0 plumage which resembles the year-round coloration of the female4 ,this dull plumage1 serving as a protective factor during the wing-moult which follows1 is retained until the new flight feathers are fully developed4 ,by ,september a second body-moult is under way by which these old drakes assume the bright courting plumage of late fall and winter4 ,during the same period1 the young males of the year1 whose juvenile plumage likewise resembles the female dress1 are also assuming the adult plumage4 ,following ,december #a most difficulties of identification by reason of the moult are resolved1 but in early fall the hunter may be puzzled by some of the transition plumages noted on birds in his bag4 ,identification during this period may appear extremely difficult1 but it is well to remember that wing patterns remain virtually unchanged regardless of stage of the moult4 ,the remaining problems of identification require only brief mention for they appear but rarely4 ,in the first place1 this booklet includes all species of ducks and geese which occur in numbers in any part of the ,central ,flyway1 but omits others which may be occasional visitors4 ,second1 hybrids are rather frequent among waterfowl1 and some are extremely puzzling4 ,in such special cases as these your local wildlife manager or biologist may be able to help4 ,the following publications contain further information for the hunter interested in additional facts of natural history1 distribution and description3 ,kortright1 8,ducks1 ,geese and ,swans of ,north ,america0 ,peterson1 8,a ,field ,guide to the ,birds0 ,pough1 8,audubon ,water ,bird ,guide0 ,nonhunting ,enjoyments ,for the nonhunter--and many avid outdoorsmen prefer to watch rather than shoot--this guide to waterfowl can provide enjoyment beyond the simple pleasure of seeing ducks and geese4 ,most of us remember seeing some 8oldtimer0 identify flights or singles or rafts of birds at what seemed impossible distances4 ,the ability to do this does not really stem from some mystic communion with the birds4 ,rather1 through such a booklet as this the waterfowling layman can develop the same powers in himself4 ,for the cost of a little concentrated effort he can gain great personal satisfaction and the increased understanding that comes from resolving 8ducks0 into the wide variety of individual species they really are4 ,further1 some knowledge of waterfowl distribution1 annual abundance and the approximate source and destination of the ducks and geese he hunts1 will often help the waterfowler understand the overall picture of waterfowl management4 ,for both administrative and biological purposes of waterfowl management1 the ,united ,states is divided into four flyways--the ,atlantic1 the ,mississippi1 the ,pacific1 and the one for which this booklet is written1 the ,central4 ,each flyway has its own segment of the waterfowl population1 subject to different conditions and pressures than the populations of other flyways1 and therefore is administered as a separate unit4 ,in general this is a sound premise1 but it must not be considered too rigid4 ,since the flyway principle is in part an administrative device1 it is important principally in fall and winter when most ,north ,american waterfowl are within the ,united ,states4 ,as the wintering populations begin to move northward in the spring1 many species disperse throughout the nesting grounds of the northern states and ,canada4 ,much overlapping of the populations from various flyways in which the birds wintered occurs4 ,research and ,management ,methods developed over the years and applied systematically supply information which is necessary to intelligent management4 ,breeding pair and brood surveys indicate the distribution of nesting populations1 and their success from year to year in hatching and raising their broods of young4 ,the banding of waterfowl1 carefully aged1 sexed1 and released1 gives specific information on the travels of individual birds1 on mortality1 and on some phases of hunting pressure4 ,periodic air-counts in late summer and fall serve to measure1 in a rough way1 the distribution of different species during southward migration1 and the rate of movement4 ,hunter-bag checks1 carried out in the field during the shooting season1 complement fall counts with regard to distribution at given points4 ,a post-season sampling of hunter success1 by mail1 supplies data on additional aspects of hunting pressure1 and gives an index of total kill4 ,finally1 the annual winter count indicates the distribution and relative size of populations remaining after the shooting season ends4 ,in combination1 these methods are steadily increasing our knowledge of ,north ,american waterfowl1 and in particular are providing the sort of 8running inventory0 which is the first requirement for intelligent management of this resource4 ,the ,central ,flyway ,council is the clearing house for coordinated planning in this ,flyway4 ,it is a delegate organization1 including in its membership administrative and technical representatives from the fish and game departments of all states and provinces in the flyway4 ,a ,flyway ,representative has been assigned from the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 ,this group is concerned with all phases of waterfowl research and management in the flyway4 ,the ,central ,flyway ,council provides for an effective interchange of information between member agencies and assists in the coordination and integration of flyway management programs4 ,these purposes have been furthered by regular meetings for the open discussion of flyway problems4 ,flyway ,council ,approach ,in early #aiec1 the ,council and the ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 acting jointly1 adopted a flyway program which has been expanded and improved as factual information and experience dictate4 ,this program outlines objectives and suggests methods and priorities for accomplishment4 ,state game departments now pattern their activities around the flyway program4 ,extending the cooperative idea1 the ,council has joined with corresponding organizations from the other flyways to form the ,national ,waterfowl ,council1 which annually participates in the official discussion of continental and flyway management problems and regulations4 ,from their inception1 the flyway councils have been successful in promoting understanding and teamwork so necessary for the perpetuation of the waterfowl resource4 ,your ,responsibility ,as an individual reader of this booklet1 you have a part to play in the essential partnership between agencies and waterfowlers4 ,your part may be small and may take various forms1 depending on the circumstances1 but certainly it is there4 ,perhaps1 having sent in one or two waterfowl bands in the past and having experienced the initial novelty of hearing where your birds came from1 you now forget to report them4 ,the next time you have this choice between reporting or forgetting a band1 remember that its prompt recovery1 with full data1 might be the clue to some missing fact to improve your future gunning4 ,hunter bag checks indicate crippling losses in the ,central ,flyway run to an average of about one quarter of the total kill4 ,in certain marshes1 early in the season1 crippling can greatly exceed the one quarter loss4 ,shooting at birds on the fringe of effective killing range is a crippling practice and1 moreover1 as you probably know from observation is contagious4 ,the usual effect of one 8sky shooter0 in a marsh is to force other gunners nearby to attempt impossible shots which increase crippling losses and soon ruin shooting for everybody4 ,controlling such practices lies solely in the hands of individual gunners4 ,with large-gauge guns of modified bore1 the shot-pattern that will produce kills should be consistent up to forty yards1 a distance well within capabilities of the average gunner to hold and compute necessary lead4 ,successful duck shooting is a matter of good judgment4 ,to avoid errors in judgment drive stakes in front of your blind at distances of thirty and forty yards to indicate safe killing range4 ,hold your fire until the feet of an incoming duck can be seen distinctly1 for only then will the bird be in range4 ,good sportsmanship in duck blinds and marshes is equally as important as remaining friendly with your home neighbors4 ,train a good retrieving dog1 and add to your day's pleasure by watching him at work on downed birds4 ,above all1 remember that the future of waterfowling is partly in your hands--that your good sportsmanship and cooperation are as necessary to the work of the ,central ,flyway ,council and its member agencies as their activities are to you4 ,,parts ,,of ,a ,,duck ,illustration3 ,,parts ,,of ,a ,,duck ,,crown ,,forehead ,,occiput ,,cheek ,,nape ,,side ,,neck ,,back ,,scapulars ,,rump ,,chin ,,throat ,,foreneck ,,tertials ,,upper ,,tail ,,coverts ,,breast ,,tail ,,under ,,tail ,,coverts ,,belly ,,side ,,lesser ,,coverts ,,spurious ,,wing ,,greater ,,coverts ,,primaries ,,secondaries ,,tertials ,,tibia ,,scutellate ,,tarsus ,,heel ,,hind ,,toe ,,toe ,,web ,,nail ,,lamellae ,,lower ,,mandible ,,upper ,,mandible ,,nostril ,,nail ,,male ,,female ,,whistling ,,swan 7,cygnus columbianus7 ,illustration3 ,,whistling ,,swan 7,cygnus columbianus7 ,,entire ,,plumage ,,white ,,immature ,,birds ,,have ,,gray-,,white ,,plumage ,,with ,,dull ,,pinkish ,,bill ,,yellow ,,spot ,,black ,,bill ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,carries ,,neck ,,held ,,erect ,,head ,,of ,,mute ,,swan ,,showing ,,black ,,knob ,,and ,,orange ,,bill ,,canada ,,goose 7,branta canadensis7 ,illustration3 ,,canada ,,goose 7,branta canadensis7 ,,white ,,rump ,,brownish ,,gray ,,body ,,and ,,wings ,,black ,,bill ,,white ,,patch ,,black ,,neck ,,all ,,geese ,,have ,,reticulate ,,tarsus ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,snow ,,goose 7,chen hyperborea7 ,illustration3 ,,snow ,,goose 7,chen hyperborea7 ,,white ,,body ,,black ,,wing ,,tips ,,pink ,,feet ,,light ,,pink ,,bill ,,black 8,,grinning0 ,,patch ,,feathers ,,of ,,cheeks1 ,,breast ,,and ,,belly ,,often ,,stained ,,with ,,rusty ,,brown ,,immature ,,birds ,,tend ,,toward ,a ,,more ,,gray ,,plumage ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,ross ,,goose 7,chen rossi7 ,illustration3 ,,ross ,,goose 7,chen rossi7 ,,about ,,size ,,of ,,mallard ,,adult ,,warty ,,protuberances ,,on ,,bill4 ,,no ,,black 8,,grinning0 ,,patch ,,pinkish ,,bill ,,immature ,,white-,,fronted ,,goose 7,anser albifrons7 ,illustration3 ,,white-,,fronted ,,goose 7,anser albifrons7 ,,adult ,,barred ,,belly ,,immature ,,yellowish ,,bill ,,pale ,,breast ,,white ,,patch ,,brownish ,,foreparts ,,yellowish ,,legs ,,blue ,,goose 7,chen caerulescens7 ,illustration3 ,,blue ,,goose 7,chen caerulescens7 ,,adult ,,pink ,,feet1 ,,immature ,,dusky ,,feet ,,immature ,,pink ,,bill ,,white ,,nail ,,black 8,,grinning0 ,,patch ,,white ,,head ,,and ,,neck ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,puddle ,,or ,,dabbling ,,duck ,,characteristics 7,anatinae7 ,illustration3 ,,puddle ,,or ,,dabbling ,,duck ,,characteristics 7,anatinae7 ,,tip ,,up ,,to ,,feed1 ,,rarely ,,dive ,,legs ,,placed ,,near ,,center ,,of ,,body ,,generally ,,have ,,metallic ,,speculum ,,usually ,,swim ,,with ,,tail ,,held ,,clear ,,of ,,water ,,foot ,,smaller ,,than ,,in ,,diving ,,ducks ,,hind ,,toe ,,not ,,lobed ,,spring ,,into ,,air ,,on ,,take ,,off ,,mallard 7,anas platyrhynchos7 ,illustration3 ,,mallard 7,anas platyrhynchos7 ,,white ,,tail ,,white ,,borders ,,on ,,purple ,,speculum ,,whitish ,,tail ,,green ,,head ,,yellow ,,bill ,,white ,,collar ,,ruddy ,,breast ,,orange ,,bill ,,mottled ,,with ,,black ,,mottled ,,brown ,,black ,,duck 7,anas rubripes7 ,illustration3 ,,black ,,duck 7,anas rubripes7 ,,yellowish-,,brown ,,head ,,dusky-,,brown ,,body ,,white ,,wing-,,linings ,,immature ,,has ,,streaked ,,breast ,,purple ,,speculum ,,immature ,,side ,,breast ,,feather ,,adult ,,male ,,side ,,breast ,,feather ,,adult ,,female ,,side ,,breast ,,feather ,,bill ,,color ,,varies ,,from ,,solid ,,greenish ,,yellow ,,to ,,high ,,chrome ,,yellow ,,depending ,,upon ,,age ,,and ,,season ,,killed ,,female ,,bill ,,shows ,,varying ,,amount ,,of ,,black ,,spotting ,,mottled ,,duck 7,anas fulvigula7 ,illustration3 ,,mottled ,,duck 7,anas fulvigula7 ,,trailing ,,edge ,,often ,,white ,,light ,,tan ,,head ,,purple ,,speculum ,,feet ,,orange ,,chin ,,and ,,throat ,,pale ,,buff 7,,with ,,or7 ,,without ,,streaking ,,dark ,,base ,,of ,,bill ,,bill ,,yellow1 ,,dark ,,nail ,,dark ,,spot 7often absent7 ,,variable ,,spotting ,,new ,,mexican ,,duck 7,anas diazi novimexicana7 ,illustration3 ,,new ,,mexican ,,duck 7,anas diazi novimexicana7 ,,tail ,,dark4 ,,speculum ,,bluish ,,purple ,,to ,,green4 ,,white ,,edge ,,above ,,sometimes ,,absent4 ,,feet ,,orange4 ,,bill ,,yellow1 ,,dark ,,nail4 ,,chin ,,pinkish ,,buff ,,without ,,streaking4 ,,bill ,,dark ,,olive ,,or ,,orange1 ,,dark ,,on ,,ridge4 ,,small ,,spots ,,near ,,base ,,limited ,,or ,,absent4 ,,gadwall 7,anas strepera7 ,illustration3 ,,gadwall 7,anas strepera7 ,,black ,,rump ,,white ,,belly ,,white ,,speculum ,,white ,,belly ,,both ,,sexes ,,have ,,yellow ,,feet ,,bill ,,bluish ,,black ,,bill ,,dull ,,orange ,,varying ,,spotting ,,pintail 7,anas acuta7 ,illustration3 ,,pintail 7,anas acuta7 ,,white ,,stripe ,,cinnamon-,,buff ,,border ,,pointed ,,tail ,,white ,,stripe ,,brown ,,head ,,gray ,,bill ,,gray ,,bill ,,mottled ,,brown ,,green-,,winged ,,teal 7,anas carolinensis7 ,illustration3 ,,green-,,winged ,,teal 7,anas carolinensis7 ,,green ,,speculum ,,white ,,belly ,,brown ,,head ,,green ,,patch ,,white ,,mark ,,blue-,,winged ,,teal 7,anas discors7 ,illustration3 ,,blue-,,winged ,,teal 7,anas discors7 ,,chalky-,,blue ,,patch ,,green ,,speculum ,,male ,,has ,,dark ,,belly ,,white ,,crescent ,,female ,,has ,,light ,,belly ,,cinnamon ,,teal 7,anas cyanoptera7 ,illustration3 ,,cinnamon ,,teal 7,anas cyanoptera7 ,,chalky-,,blue ,,patch ,,green ,,speculum ,,uniform ,,cinnamon ,,body ,,color ,,female ,,has ,,light ,,belly ,,american ,,widgeon 7,baldpate7 7,mareca americana7 ,illustration3 ,,american ,,widgeon 7,baldpate7 7,mareca americana7 ,,white ,,patch ,,white ,,belly ,,green ,,speculum ,,white ,,border ,,white ,,crown ,,green ,,patch ,,gray ,,bill1 ,,black ,,tipped ,,white ,,patch ,,shoveler 7,spatula clypeata7 ,illustration3 ,,shoveler 7,spatula clypeata7 ,,chalky-,,blue ,,patch ,,green ,,speculum ,,bordered ,,with ,,white ,,iridescent ,,greenish ,,black ,,large ,,shovel ,,bill ,,conspicuous ,,bristle-,,like ,,lamellae ,,white ,,breast ,,chestnut ,,sides ,,and ,,belly ,,wood ,,duck 7,aix sponsa7 ,illustration3 ,,wood ,,duck 7,aix sponsa7 ,,white ,,border ,,white ,,belly ,,silvery ,,bordered ,,red ,,iris ,,red ,,and ,,white ,,bill ,,adult ,,male ,,highly ,,colored ,,eclipse ,,and ,,immature ,,male ,,white ,,patch ,,conspicuous ,,white ,,eye-,,ring ,,crested ,,harlequin ,,duck 7,histrionicus histrionicus7 ,illustration3 ,,harlequin ,,duck 7,histrionicus histrionicus7 ,,white ,,marks ,,stocky1 ,,dark1 ,,small ,,bill ,,female ,,has ,,smaller ,,bill ,,plain ,,dark ,,body ,,diving ,,duck ,,characteristics 7,aythyinae7 ,illustration3 ,,diving ,,duck ,,characteristics 7,aythyinae7 ,,legs ,,set ,,near ,,rear ,,of ,,body ,,dive ,,completely ,,under ,,water ,,to ,,secure ,,feed ,,speculum ,,generally ,,dull1 ,,lacks ,,iridescence ,,usually ,,swim ,,with ,,tail ,,held ,,close ,,to ,,water ,,hind ,,toe ,,lobed1 ,,foot ,,large ,,on ,,take ,,off ,,patter ,,along ,,surface ,,for ,,some ,,distance ,,redhead 7,aythya americana7 ,illustration3 ,,redhead 7,aythya americana7 ,,gray ,,back ,,gray ,,wing ,,stripe ,,chestnut ,,head ,,high ,,abrupt ,,forehead ,,blue ,,bill1 ,,black ,,tip ,,black ,,breast ,,light ,,patch ,,ring-,,necked ,,duck 7,aythya collaris7 ,illustration3 ,,ring-,,necked ,,duck 7,aythya collaris7 ,,black ,,back ,,gray ,,wing ,,stripe ,,distinct ,,crest ,,conspicuous ,,bill ,,ring ,,chestnut ,,collar ,,black ,,breast ,,white ,,patch ,,white ,,eye ,,ring ,,light ,,patch ,,canvasback 7,aythya valisineria7 ,illustration3 ,,canvasback 7,aythya valisineria7 ,,white ,,back ,,gray ,,wing ,,stripe ,,chestnut ,,head ,,long ,,sloping ,,profile1 ,,black ,,bill ,,black ,,breast ,,gray ,,back ,,brown ,,breast ,,greater ,,scaup 7,aythya marila7 ,illustration3 ,,greater ,,scaup 7,aythya marila7 ,,dark ,,rump ,,white ,,wing ,,stripe ,,extending ,,into ,,primaries ,,white ,,belly ,,nail ,,of ,,bill #g4j-i4j ,,millimeters ,,wide ,,gray ,,back ,,black ,,head ,,with ,,greenish ,,tinge ,,broad ,,blue ,,bill ,,black ,,breast ,,white ,,flanks ,,brown ,,body ,,and ,,head ,,distinct ,,white ,,mask ,,lesser ,,scaup 7,aythya affinis7 ,illustration3 ,,lesser ,,scaup 7,aythya affinis7 ,,dark ,,rump ,,white ,,wing ,,stripe ,,does ,,not ,,extend ,,into ,,primaries ,,white ,,belly ,,nail ,,of ,,bill #e4j-f4e ,,millimeters ,,wide ,,slight ,,crest ,,gray ,,back ,,black ,,head ,,with ,,purplish ,,tinge ,,broad ,,blue ,,bill ,,black ,,breast ,,light ,,flanks ,,brown ,,body ,,and ,,head ,,distinct ,,white ,,mask ,,common ,,goldeneye 7,bucephala clangula7 ,illustration3 ,,common ,,goldeneye 7,bucephala clangula7 ,,white ,,wing ,,patches ,,greenish ,,black ,,head ,,light ,,iris ,,distinct ,,white ,,patch ,,white ,,breast ,,and ,,belly #b,,nd ,,season ,,male ,,with ,,brown ,,head ,,and ,,faint ,,white ,,patch ,,brown ,,head ,,orange ,,tip ,,in ,,breeding ,,plumage ,,gray ,,back ,,and ,,flanks ,,white ,,neck ,,gray ,,breast ,,white ,,belly #a,,st ,,season ,,male ,,is ,,similar ,,in ,,coloration ,,to ,,female ,,but ,,with ,,heavier ,,body ,,and ,,more ,,rugged ,,head ,,and ,,bill ,,barrow',s ,,goldeneye 7,bucephala islandica7 ,illustration3 ,,barrow',s ,,goldeneye 7,bucephala islandica7 ,,white ,,wing ,,patches ,,purplish ,,black ,,head ,,white ,,crescent ,,patch ,,black ,,back ,,black ,,bill ,,white ,,breast ,,and ,,belly ,,light ,,iris ,,gray ,,back ,,and ,,flanks ,,orange ,,tip ,,in ,,breeding ,,plumage ,,white ,,neck ,,gray ,,breast ,,white ,,belly ,,bufflehead 7,bucephala albeola7 ,illustration3 ,,bufflehead 7,bucephala albeola7 ,,black ,,and ,,white ,,back ,,dark ,,back ,,white ,,wing ,,patches ,,white ,,belly ,,black ,,with ,,iridescent ,,green ,,and ,,purple ,,distinct ,,white ,,patch ,,blue-,,gray ,,bill ,,dark ,,grayish ,,brown ,,distinct ,,white ,,patch ,,white-,,winged ,,scoter 7,melanitta deglandi7 ,illustration3 ,,white-,,winged ,,scoter 7,melanitta deglandi7 ,,black ,,chunky ,,body ,,white ,,patch ,,white ,,eye ,,patch ,,prominent ,,black ,,knob ,,reddish ,,orange ,,immature ,,has ,,distinct ,,white ,,patches ,,feathering ,,extends ,,almost ,,to ,,nostril ,,adult ,,female ,,cheek ,,patches ,,range ,,from ,,slightly ,,darker ,,than ,,immature ,,to ,,no ,,white ,,at ,,all ,,fulvous ,,tree ,,duck 7,dendrocygna bicolor helva7 ,illustration3 ,,fulvous ,,tree ,,duck 7,dendrocygna bicolor helva7 ,,long ,,neck ,,adult ,,white ,,line ,,immature ,,adult ,,long ,,legs ,,black-,,bellied ,,tree ,,duck 7,dendrocygna autumnalis autumnalis7 ,illustration3 ,,black-,,bellied ,,tree ,,duck 7,dendrocygna autumnalis autumnalis7 ,,white ,,upper ,,wing ,,adult ,,long ,,neck ,,immature ,,white ,,wing ,,patch ,,ruddy ,,duck 7,oxyura jamaicensis7 ,illustration3 ,,ruddy ,,duck 7,oxyura jamaicensis7 ,,dark ,,brown ,,belly ,,silvery ,,white ,,summer ,,plumage ,,white ,,cheek ,,crown ,,glossy ,,black ,,bill ,,blue ,,rich ,,chestnut ,,winter ,,plumage ,,crown ,,brownish-,,black ,,bill ,,dusky ,,ashy ,,white ,,mottled ,,cheek ,,with ,,dark ,,stripe ,,bill ,,nail ,,distinctly ,,sharp-,,pointed ,,grayish ,,brown ,,hooded ,,merganser 7,lophodytes cucullatus7 ,illustration3 ,,hooded ,,merganser 7,lophodytes cucullatus7 ,,white ,,wing ,,patch ,,white ,,crest ,,outlined ,,with ,,black ,,thin1 ,,spike-,,like ,,black ,,bill ,,teeth ,,not ,,inclined ,,backward ,,as ,,in ,,other ,,mergansers ,,white ,,breast ,,double ,,black ,,bands ,,crest1 ,,light ,,brown ,,light ,,throat ,,in ,,flight ,,all ,,mergansers ,,carry ,,bill1 ,,neck ,,and ,,body ,,in ,,horizontal ,,plane1 ,,giving ,,them ,a ,,characteristic ,,long-,,drawn ,,appearance4 ,,common ,,merganser 7,mergus merganser7 ,illustration3 ,,common ,,merganser 7,mergus merganser7 ,,black ,,and ,,white ,,pattern ,,white ,,wing ,,patch ,,metallic ,,greenish-,,black ,,not ,,crested ,,red ,,bill ,,nostril ,,positioned ,,near ,,center ,,of ,,bill ,,distinct ,,crest ,,white ,,throat ,,red ,,bill ,,teeth ,,inclined ,,backwards ,,gray ,,back ,,double-,,crested ,,cormorant 7,phalacrocorax auritus7 ,illustration3 ,,double-,,crested ,,cormorant 7,phalacrocorax auritus7 ,,adult ,,immature ,,pale ,,breast ,,yellow-,,orange ,,throat ,,pouch ,,black ,,body ,,common ,,loon 7,gavia immer7 ,illustration3 ,,common ,,loon 7,gavia immer7 ,,summer ,,adult ,,checkered ,,back ,,in ,,flight ,,has ,,downward ,,curve ,,to ,,neck ,,winter ,,adult ,,feet ,,extend ,,beyond ,,tail ,,gray ,,summer ,,adult ,,black ,,head1 ,,purplish ,,iridescence ,,black ,,bill ,,white ,,ribbed ,,white ,,breast ,,and ,,belly ,,winter ,,adult ,,gray ,,white ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,horned ,,grebe 7,colymbus auritus7 ,illustration3 ,,horned ,,grebe 7,colymbus auritus7 ,,winter ,,plumage ,,dark ,,back ,,thin ,,bill ,,red ,,eye ,,white ,,cheeks1 ,,throat ,,and ,,belly ,,head1 ,,summer ,,plumage ,,lobed ,,toes ,,pied-,,billed ,,grebe 7,podilymbus podiceps7 ,illustration3 ,,pied-,,billed ,,grebe 7,podilymbus podiceps7 ,,tarsus ,,flattened ,,laterally ,,adult ,,head ,,black ,,immature ,,chicken-,,like ,,bill ,,white ,,striped ,,facial ,,pattern ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,western ,,grebe 7,aechmophorus occidentalis7 ,illustration3 ,,western ,,grebe 7,aechmophorus occidentalis7 ,,white ,,underparts ,,long ,,slender ,,neck ,,american ,,coot 7,fulica americana7 ,illustration3 ,,american ,,coot 7,fulica americana7 ,,white ,,scalloped ,,flaps ,,white ,,patch ,,slate ,,gray ,,body ,,white ,,bill ,,king ,,rail 7,rallus elegans7 ,illustration3 ,,king ,,rail 7,rallus elegans7 ,,commonly ,,inhabits ,,fresh ,,water ,,marshes ,,generally ,,has ,a ,,rusty ,,coloration ,,dark ,,barring ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,clapper ,,rail 7,rallus longirostris7 ,illustration3 ,,clapper ,,rail 7,rallus longirostris7 ,,generally ,,has ,a ,,grayer ,,coloration ,,commonly ,,inhabits ,,tidal ,,marshes ,,light ,,barring ,,immature ,,birds ,,similar ,,to ,,adults3 ,,species ,,differentiation ,,often ,,difficult ,,virginia ,,rail 7,rallus limicola7 ,illustration3 ,,virginia ,,rail 7,rallus limicola7 ,,immature ,,blackish ,,body ,,adult ,,reddish ,,body ,,gray ,,cheeks ,,long ,,bill ,,white ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,sora 7,porzana ,carolina7 ,illustration3 ,,sora 7,porzana ,carolina7 ,,immature ,,buffy ,,brown ,,body ,,adult ,,white ,,patch ,,gray-,,brown ,,body ,,short ,,yellow ,,bill ,,black ,,facial ,,and ,,throat ,,patch ,,common ,,snipe 7,,jacksnipe7 7,capella gallinago7 ,illustration3 ,,common ,,snipe 7,,jacksnipe7 7,capella gallinago7 ,,long ,,bill ,,striped ,,back ,,and ,,head ,,orange ,,tail ,,has ,a ,,characteristic ,,zig-,,zag ,,flight ,,pointed ,,wing ,,sexes ,,are ,,similar ,,american ,,woodcock 7,philohela minor7 ,illustration3 ,,american ,,woodcock 7,philohela minor7 ,,barred ,,head ,,long ,,bill ,,short ,,tail ,,chunky ,,body ,,large ,,eye ,,appears ,,neckless ,,blunt ,,wing ,,waterfowler',s ,,code ,buy a ,state ,license1 and if ,you ,are #af ,years of ,age or ,older ,obtain ,federal ,duck ,stamp4 ,it is illegal to hunt waterfowl without these licenses1 and the dollars you spend for them help to maintain your sport4 ,know ,your ,state1 ,provincial and ,federal ,migratory ,bird ,laws4 ,when in doubt consult your local game protector or ,u4,s4 ,game ,management ,agent4 ,treat the ,landowner with ,respect and ,courtesy4 ,ownership of game is vested in the ,state and ,province1 but landowners have the right to prevent trespass on their land4 ,learn to ,identify ,before ,you ,shoot4 ,a mistake may prove both embarrassing and costly1 a correct identification adds to your day's enjoyment4 ,cooperate with ,your ,federal1 ,state and ,provincial ,agencies4 ,solving the many problems of waterfowl production1 harvest and research is possible only through continued cooperation of the duck hunter and conservationist4 ,use a ,retriever if ,possible1 or at ,least ,pick ,up ,every ,bird ,you ,shoot4 ,a good dog will pick up cripples you would otherwise have to leave4 ,a good sportsman will never kill game needlessly4 ,the use of retrieving dogs is a sound conservation practice in reducing crippling losses in addition to providing the pleasure of watching a good dog in action4 ,good ,sportsmanship in the ,duck ,blind and on the ,marshes ,is ,equally ,important as ,remaining ,friendly with ,your ,neighbors4 ,,distributed ,,by3 ,,texas ,,game and ,,fish ,,commission ,transcriber's ,notes --,retained publication information from the printed edition3 this e,book is public-domain in the country of publication4 --,added several birds to the ,table of ,contents to match the text4 --,silently corrected a few typos4 --,in the text versions only1 text in italics is delimited by underscores4