THE KNOWLEDGE VERSION
HOW TO IDENTIFY
REPRO OP
UK DUCKS
SUBS
The quintessential waterbirds, ducks are fun to watch and easy to identify once you know what you’re looking for. Why not spot all these species at your local WWT centre?
ART PRODUCTION CLIENT Illustrations courtesy of Collins Birds of the World
B
irdwatching in the UK holds many joys, one of which is learning to identify our many different ducks. Of the 22 species of duck that regularly occur in the UK, several are with us in good numbers all year round, three occur only in winter, and another 15 are more numerous in winter than summer. One, the secretive garganey, is a summer visitor to the UK. Your local WWT centre is the perfect place to hone your duck identification skills – and summer is the time when some of the most exciting behaviour can be seen. A large flock of mixed species can be bewildering, so start by choosing one individual from the group to watch. Study its behaviour – how it feeds and interacts with other ducks – and observe it from different angles. Ducks have bags of personality. The more you watch, the more you’ll learn. Providing wetland habitat is vital to keeping duck populations healthy. And at WWT sites around the UK, you’ll be able to see all of the species in this guide at the right time of year. So swot up and then head to your nearest centre to get acquainted with the colourful world of ducks. For more advice on duck ID and how to be a birdwatcher, visit our website.
MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
(NORTHERN) PINTAIL Anas acuta
The most familiar duck in the British Isles. The mallard is a typical dabbling duck in that it feeds on the water’s surface and can spring straight up into the air on whirring wings.
The most elegant British duck, on the ground and in the air. Its long, slender neck, wings and tail, and subtle colouring, make it easy to recognise. In most places, a winter visitor.
(EURASIAN) WIGEON Anas penelope
GADWALL Anas strepera
(EURASIAN) SHOVELER Anas clypeata
Wigeon are unusual ducks in that they often graze grass like geese. Look for the male’s chestnut head and pale crown. A small number breed in the UK.
The gadwall looks plain until seen up close. A little smaller than the mallard, the male has obvious black tail feathers. Some spend the summer with us but many more over winter.
The shoveler’s most distinctive feature is its long, spade-like bill, which it uses to sift water to filter out particles of food. Peak counts often occur in winter or during flood events.
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Waterlife
MARCH/JUNE 2022
BLACK YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN
