22 Species of Duck Commonly Found In Florida [Incl. Pictures]

There are ducks everywhere around Florida and many different species to identify. Some of them call Florida home all year round while others can be spotted during their migration. There are also a few species that only head to Florida over winter.

Let’s have a look the different species of ducks found in Florida.

22 Species Of Ducks Commonly Found In Florida

We’ve identified 22 species of ducks that you’re likely to spot around Florida. There may be others that we’ve missed but these are likely to only migrate through Florida at certain times of the year.

Here are some interesting features of these birds.

1. American Black Duck

Contrary to what you might think, American black ducks are actually dark brown all over. Their heads or gray-brown and they have yellow-green bills. When in flight, the underside of the wings are white but the secondary wings are bright purple. You’ll mainly see these ducks in Florida in winter.

2. American Wigeon

These ducks are a lovely cinnamon color with a brown specked head and upper wings. The top of the head is white and they have a shiny green patch over their eye. The underside of the tail feathers are black. Female American wigeons don’t have the green patch and are slightly more muted in color.

3. Black-Bellied Whistling Duck

You’ll only see this duck in a few spots along the coast during their migratory flight. They have a longer neck than other ducks with a light gray head and a bright pink bill. Their wings are mottled in brown, white and black and they have a brown stripe on top of the head that continues down the back of the neck. They also have a black mottled belly.

4. Blue-Winged Teal

The blue-winged teal can be seen in Florida in winter. Its most prominent feature is the white stripe it has on either side of its face just in front of the eye. The body feathers are brown with dark speckles. They have slate-blue head and a dark, almost black bill. When in flight, the secondary wings are an emerald green color. Only the males have the distinctive face colorings.

5. Bufflehead

There’s no mistaking the diminutive bufflehead duck but you’re only likely to see this one in the northern parts of Florida. These ducks can be identified by their extra large heads and short necks. The male bufflehead has a white body and a black back. The head is black on top with a large white triangular patch. Around the eyes and on the short neck, there are feathers in iridescent colors of green, blue, and purple. The females are generally brown all over but have a white cheek patch on both sides.

6. Canvasback

This is another winter visitor to Florida. This duck has a white back, dark brown chest and belly and a chestnut colored head and neck. Only the males have the bolder coloring whereas the females are pale brown with dark brown patches or speckles.

7. Cinnamon Teal

You’ll only find cinnamon teals around the coast during their migration. The males are quite spectacular with their rusty-gold plumage that covers their head, neck, back, chest and belly. Their wings are a brownish-black. The female ducks are generally speckled brown all over.

8. Common Goldeneye

This is another species of duck that you’ll only encounter along the coast in winter. This is a black and white duck with a greenish-black head and a white cheek patch. On the other hand, females have a rusty brown head and a mixture of light and dark gray feather all over. Both males and females have a distinctive golden eye.

9. Fulvous Whistling Duck

This is one duck that you’re likely to see all year round. It’s a large duck with a long neck, long legs  and a very short tail. The head and chest of this duck are cinnamon brown and the wings are a mixture of cinnamon, white and dark brown. There’s also a band of white stippling on either side of the neck.

10. Gadwall

This pretty duck is gray-brown on the body and lighter brown on the head. The coloring is patterned with white. The tail has a black patch and the bill is also black although the female ducks have a thin orange stripe around the edged of their bills.

11. Green-Winged Teal

This smallish duck is gray-brown speckled all over except for the head. Males have a cinnamon colored head with a distinctive green stripe from the eye down to the base of the head. On females, this stripe is black. Both male and female ducks have bright green patches on their secondary wings.

12. Hooded Merganser

If you’re lucky, you can spot this unusual looking duck in Florida in winter. It’s a small duck that has a large, fan-shaped crest on its head. This makes its head look quite oversized and gives it an alien appearance. The head is black but has a large white patch on either side. The ducks also have a white chest, black back and chestnut flanks. Their bright orange eyes add to their comical appearance.

13. Lesser Scaup

The male lesser scaup looks like it’s been dipped in black paint. The head, neck, and chest are pure black and the tail feathers are also black. The underside is white and the back is black and white speckled. The bill is a silvery-blue color. Females are more muted in brown and their undersides are a speckled brown and white.

14. Mallard

There’s no mistaking the male mallard with its iridescent green head and bright yellow bill. These ducks also have a gray body, a brown breast and a black rear. On the other hand, the females have a brown head with an orangy-brown bill. Both female and male ducks have a blue patch on the secondary wings with a white border.

15. Mottled Duck

The male and female mottled ducks look quite similar, Their both have light and dark brown mottled feathers with a buff colored head. Both have yellow bills but the male’s is brighter in color.

16. Northern Pintail

These are long-necked ducks with a slender profile. They have a pure white breast and neck and a white stripe on their chocolate brown head and neck. The males have a green patch on their secondary wings. Their tails are quite long and pointed.

17. Northern Shoveler

You can identify this duck by its shovel-shaped bill that is black. Male ducks have a dark green head, white chest and rust-colored belly. Their back feathers are a combination of black and white. The females lack the green head coloring and are speckled brown and white. Plus, their bills are orange.

18. Red-Breasted Merganser

You can spot these ducks during their migration, however, some may spend the winter along the coastline of Florida. The first thing you’ll notice is the tufts of black feathers that stick out from their head. They also have quite a long and flat reddish bill. The males have a black head, white band around their neck and a mottled cinnamon chest. The females are brownish-gray all over and have a brown head.

19. Redhead

Apart from its cinnamon-colored head, the other outstanding feature of this duck is its large bill that has a downward hook on the black tip. The male has a gorgeous silvery body and a rich, dark brown chest and tail. The female is more subdued in coloring and is basically speckled brown all over.

20. Ring-Necked Duck

These birds have an interesting bill that has a white edge at the base, then is gray with a white stripe near the tip. The tip is completely black. The male ducks are a rich brown with a white underside while the females are a paler brown underneath and on their heads but with a similar dark brown on their back.

21. Ruddy Duck

This cute little duck can be distinguished by its sky blue bill and the large white patch on both cheeks. The males sport a black cap on top of their heads but are otherwise mottled chestnut on their backs and pale gray underneath. The females have a brown cap on their heads and are mottled brown elsewhere. Their bills are a dark gray.

22. Wood Duck

The wood duck is another species that looks like it doesn’t belong to this world. It has a boxy, crested head and a thin neck. It also has a long and broad tail. Male wood ducks have shiny green heads that have a series of white strips. They also have a chestnut breast and white belly with buff sides. The females are more muted with a grayish-tan head and mottled brown body.

Final Thoughts

There are around 22 different species of ducks that you’re likely to encounter in Florida. Some, you’ll be able to spot around the coastline while others are more happy spending their days on inland lakes and ponds.