The term “duck” is commonly used to designate various species of birds belonging to the family Anatidae. A great morphological variety is registered among all the types of ducks currently recognized, since each of these species has its own characteristics regarding its appearance, its behavior, its habits and its habitat. However, it is possible to find some essential features of these birds, such as their morphology perfectly adapted to aquatic life, which makes them excellent swimmers, and the vocalization generally translated by the onomatopoeia “cua”.
In this article on our site, we will introduce you to 12 types of ducks that inhabit different parts of the world and reveal some striking features. In addition, we show a list with more species of ducks, shall we begin?
How many species of ducks are there?
Currently, around 30 species of ducks are known, which are grouped into 6 different subfamilies: Dendrocygninae (whistling ducks), Merginae, Oxyurinae (diving ducks), Stictonettinae and Anatinae (considered the 'par excellence' and most numerous subfamily). Each species can have two or more subspecies.
All these types of ducks are usually classified into two large groups: domestic ducks and wild ducks Commonly called “domestic duck” to the species Anas platyrhynchos domesticus, which is one of the types of ducks that has best adapted to breeding in captivity and coexistence with humans. However, there are other species that have also undergone a domestication process, such as the musky duck, which is the domestic subspecies of the Creole duck (Cairina moschata).
In the next sections we will present the following types of wild and domestic ducks with images so that you can identify them more easily:
- Domestic duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)
- Blue Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
- Loggerhead Duck (Anas bahamensis)
- Red Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
- Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
- Mallard Duck (Anas sibilatrix)
- Cream Duck (Cairina moschata)
- Australian Duck (Oxyura australis)
- Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata)
- White-faced Sirirí (Dendrocygna viduata)
- Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
- Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)
1. Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)
As we mentioned, the subspecies Anas platyrhynchos domesticus is popularly known as the domestic duck or common duck. It has originated from the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), through a prolonged process of selective crossing that has allowed the creation of different breeds.
Originally, its breeding has been destined mainly to the exploration of its meat, which has always been highly valued in the international market. The breeding of the duck as a pet is quite recent and, at present, the white Peking is one of the most popular domestic duck breeds as a pet, as well as the Khaki Campbell. Likewise, farm duck breeds are also part of this group.
In the following sections, we will see some examples of the most popular wild ducks, each with its particular characteristics and curiosities.
two. Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
The mallard duck, also known as mallard, is the species from which the domestic duck developed. It is a widely distributed migratory bird that inhabits the temperate zones of North Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, migrating to the Caribbean and Central America. It has also been introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
The blue duck is one of the most common breeds of ducks in Spain, just like the domestic duck.
3. Banded Duck (Anas bahamensis)
The choker duck, also known as the white-faced or choker pascual duck, is one of the types of ducks native to the American continent, which It stands out to the naked eye for having a spotted back and a belly with numerous black freckles. Contrary to most species of ducks, Eurasian Gargantillos are mainly found near brackish water lagoons and swamps, although they can also adapt to freshwater bodies.
Currently, 3 subspecies of choker duck are known:
- Anas bahamensis bahamensis: it lives in the Caribbean, mainly in the Antilles and Bahamas.
- Anas bahamensis galapagensis: it is endemic to the Galapagos Islands.
- Anas bahamensis rubirostris: it is the largest subspecies and also the only partially migratory one, inhabiting South America, mainly between Argentina and Uruguay.
4. Red Teal (Anas cyanoptera)
The red teal is a type of duck native to America that is also known as the red duck, but this name often leads to confusion with another species called Netta rufina, which is native to Eurasia and northern from Africa and is highly sexually dimorphic. Red teals are distributed throughout the American continent, from Canada to southern Argentina, in the province of Tierra del Fuego, and are also present in the Malvinas Islands.
Currently, 5 subspecies of the American Ruddy Duck are recognized:
- Borrero Red Teal (Spatula cyanoptera borreroi): it is the smallest subspecies and only lives in the mountains of Colombia. Its population has suffered a radical decline in the last century and, to this day, it is being investigated whether it may be extinct.
- Argentine Red Teal (Spatula cyanoptera cyanoptera): it is the largest subspecies, which lives from Peru and Bolivia to southern Argentina and Chile.
- Andean Red Teal (Spatula cyanoptera orinomus): this is the typical subspecies of the Andes Mountains, living mainly in Bolivia and Peru.
- Northern Red Teal (Spatula cyanoptera septentrionalium): it is the only subspecies that lives only in North America, mainly in the United States.
- Tropical Red Teal (Spatula cyanoptera tropica): it is found in almost all the tropical regions of America.
5. Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
The mandarin duck is one of the most striking types of ducks due to the beautiful bright colors that adorn its fur, being native to Asia, more specifically China and Japan. However, this species exhibits a remarkable sexual dimorphism and only the males exhibit the attractive colorful plumage, which becomes even brighter during the breeding season to attract the females.
An interesting tidbit is that in traditional East Asian culture, mandarin ducks were seen as a symbol of good fortune and conjugal love. In China, there used to be a tradition of giving a pair of mandarin ducks to couples during their wedding, representing the conjugal union.
6. Muscovy Duck (Anas sibilatrix)
The royal duck, commonly called also from silbón or pato overo, the center and south of South America, mainly in Argentina and Chile, being also present in the Malvinas Islands. As it maintains migratory habits, it travels every year to Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay when the low temperatures begin to make themselves felt in the Southern Cone of the American continent. Although they feed on aquatic plants and prefer to live near deep bodies of water, Muscovy Ducks are not very good swimmers, being much more adept at flying.
It should be noted that it is equally common to call the mallard duck mallard, so it is common for many people to think of this species of duck when hearing the term "mallard duck". The truth is that both are considered real ducks, although they have different characteristics.
7. Mute Duck or Creole Duck (Cairina moschata)
Creole ducks, which are also known as bragados or mute ducks, are another type of duck native to the American continent, inhabiting mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions, from Mexico to Argentina and Uruguay. In general, they prefer to live in areas with abundant vegetation and near bodies of abundant fresh water, adapting to altitudes of up to 1000 meters above sea level.
Currently, 2 subspecies of Muscovy ducks are known, one wild and the other domestic, let's see:
- Cairina moschata sylvestris: is the wild subspecies of the Creole duck, which is called royal duck in South America. It stands out for its good size, black feathers (which are shiny in males and dull in females) and white spots on the wings.
- Cairina moschata domestica: is the domestic species known as musky duck, mute duck or simply Creole duck. It was developed from the selective breeding of wild specimens by indigenous communities during the pre-Columbian era. Their plumage can have more varied colors, but it is not as glossy as that of mallards. It is also possible to see white spots on the neck, belly and face.
8. Australian Duck (Oxyura australis)
The Australian Duck is one of the breeds of small ducks plunging ducks that originated in Oceania, currently living in Australia and Tasmania. Adult individuals measure around 30 to 35 cm in length and generally live in freshwater lakes, and pairs may also nest in swamps. Their diet is mainly based on the consumption of aquatic plants and small invertebrates that provide protein to their nutrition, such as molluscs, crustaceans and insects.
In addition to its small size compared to other species of ducks, its bluish beak stands out, which stands out remarkably against its dark plumage.
9. Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata)
Also known as torrentero duck, the torrente duck is one of the types of ducks characteristic of mountainous regions with high altitudes of South America, being the Cordillera de los Andes its main natural habitat. Its population is distributed from Venezuela to the extreme south of Argentina and Chile, in the province of Tierra del Fuego, adapting optimally to altitudes of up to 4500 meters and with a clear preference for fresh and cold water masses, such as Andean lakes and rivers. in which they feed mainly on small fish and crustaceans.
As a characteristic feature, we highlight the sexual dimorphism that this species of duck presents, the males presenting white plumage with brown spots and lines black on the head, and females reddish with greyish wings and head. However, there are small differences between the torrenteros ducks of the different countries of South America, especially among the male specimens, some of which may be darker than others. The image shows a female.
10. White-faced Siriri (Dendrocygna viduata)
The white-faced sirirí or pampas sirirí is one of the most striking species of whistling ducks, not only because of the white spot on its face, but also for presenting relatively long legs. It is a sedentary bird, native to Africa and America and is especially active at twilight hours, flying for hours at night.
In the American continent we find the most abundant populations, which extend through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas, from the Amazon basin in Peru and Brazil to the center of Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina and Uruguay. Already in Africa, white-faced sirirí ducks are concentrated in the western region of the continent and in the tropical zone south of the Sahara desert. Eventually, some lost individuals can be found along the coast of Spain, mainly in the Canary Islands.
eleven. Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
The harlequin duck is another of the most striking types of ducks due to its unique appearance, being the only species described within its genus (Histrionicus), rounded, whose most striking feature is its bright plumage and fragmented patterns, which serve not only to attract females, but also to camouflage themselves in the cold and agitated waters of the rivers, lakes and rapid streams where they usually inhabit.
Its geographic distribution includes northern North America, southern Greenland, eastern Russia, and Iceland. Currently, 2 subspecies are recognized: Histrionicus histrionicus histrionicus and Histrionicus histrionicus pacificus.
12. Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)
The freckled duck is the only described species within the family Stictonettinae and has originated in South Australia, where it is protected by lawbecause its population has been declining mainly thanks to changes in its habitat, such as water pollution and the advancement of agriculture.
Physically, it stands out for being a large type of duck, with a robust head with a pointed crown and dark plumage with tiny white spots, which gives it a freckled appearance. His ability to fly is also striking, although he is somewhat clumsy when landing.
Other types of ducks
We do not want to forget to mention the other types of ducks that, despite not being highlighted in this article, are also fascinating and deserve to be studied in more detail to understand the beauty of the diversity of ducks. Next, we mention the other species of ducks that inhabit our planet, some being dwarf or small ducks and others large:
- Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)
- Maize Duck (Anas georgica)
- Spectacled Duck (Anas specularis)
- crested duck (Anas specularoides)
- Florida Duck (Aix sponsa)
- Brazilian cutirí duck (Amazonetta brasiliensis)
- Brazilian Wood Duck (Merguso ctosetaceus)
- Collared ducks (Callonettaleu cophrys)
- Jungle Duck (Asarcornis scutulata)
- Maned Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
- Hartlaub's Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii)
- Steller's Eider Duck (Polysticta stelleri)
- Labrador Duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius)
- Common Scotch Duck (Melanitta nigra)
- Pato havelda (Clangula hyemalis)
- Pochard Duck (Bucephala clangula)
- Small Merganser Duck (Mergellus albellus)
- Capuchous Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
- Great Diving Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
- White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)
- Maccoa duck (Oxyura maccoa)
- Argentine Malvasia Duck or Little Diving Duck (Oxyura vittata)
- crested duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos)
