Duck identification

[Good_Apollo]

New to rokslide and pretty fresh to duck hunting. I'm having a difficult time with duck ID's. Does any one know of a good resource? Does this forum work like reddit at all where we have certain "important" posts for broad yet similar questions?

 

[gelton]

https://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Ducks%20at%20a%20Distance-OCR.pdf

This coupled with learning the various sounds they make is a good start.

 

[FLAK]

You're not alone, how anybody can tell the difference between a Hen Mallard, Black or Mottled Duck @ 40 yards is beyond me. Now, throw in eclipse Gadwall and I'm entering Algebra territory.

 

[Cubsscrubsjakes]

A guide I own that's real good is "The LeMaster Method" by Richard LeMaster. This guide is small enough to fit in your pocket and not only aids in identification in flight but in hand as well. It has a neat chart that allows you to identify based on bill size, color and shape alone. Can't remember where I got it but it cost $10.

Although tricky at first a mallard, mottled and black duck are super easy to ID in any plumage. A mallard has two white bars on their speculum, mottled ducks have one white bar and a black duck does not have any.

 

[Sam Colt]

Statistically, I believe over 50% of “what kind of duck is this” pictures that are posted are actually grebes.

 

[FLAK]

A guide I own that's real good is "The LeMaster Method" by Richard LeMaster. This guide is small enough to fit in your pocket and not only aids in identification in flight but in hand as well. It has a neat chart that allows you to identify based on bill size, color and shape alone. Can't remember where I got it but it cost $10.

Although tricky at first a mallard, mottled and black duck are super easy to ID in any plumage. A mallard has two white bars on their speculum, mottled ducks have one white bar and a black duck does not have any.

I can ID them once they're in my hand, but at 40 yards doing 30mph?
NO way.

 

[Gunnersdad49]

Statistically, I believe over 50% of “what kind of duck is this” pictures that are posted are actually grebes.

Or just pretty coots

 

[gelton]

You're not alone, how anybody can tell the difference between a Hen Mallard, Black or Mottled Duck @ 40 yards is beyond me. Now, throw in eclipse Gadwall and I'm entering Algebra territory.

It is true with hen mallards and black ducks but they are very close to the same species, different species are fairly easy for me though...spent more time in the marsh than I did in school growing up lol.

I do remember early on in my hunting days, in fact, it was my labs first hunt, I was 15 and I limited out on Widgeon in like 15 minutes and I had never seen them before. Dog retrieved all the ducks and went back in after the decoys. (fixed that pretty quick though)

I had to check out with the game warden at the check station and wasn't sure if I was going to be written up or not lol.

 

[nettereo16]

In hand the Lemaster Method is a good resource. Still, I have trouble when they are hybrids and a lot of hen divers a tricky.
Flying, Ducks at a Distance, which someone already posted has been helpful for me.

 

[FLAK]

It is true with hen mallards and black ducks but they are very close to the same species, different species are fairly easy for me though...spent more time in the marsh than I did in school growing up lol.

I do remember early on in my hunting days, in fact, it was my labs first hunt, I was 15 and I limited out on Widgeon in like 15 minutes and I had never seen them before. Dog retrieved all the ducks and went back in after the decoys. (fixed that pretty quick though)

I had to check out with the game warden at the check station and wasn't sure if I was going to be written up or not lol.

LOL!!!
Yeah, me and a buddy did something similar in our early teens.
We went duck hunting and oh man did we find the ducks!!!
We literally loaded the little jon boat we had. I was so proud I
went next door to my neighbor who I knew was a duck hunter to show off. He almost passed out. We cleaned Mallards till midnight.
I wont say how many.

 

[Oregon]

A guide I own that's real good is "The LeMaster Method" by Richard LeMaster. This guide is small enough to fit in your pocket and not only aids in identification in flight but in hand as well. It has a neat chart that allows you to identify based on bill size, color and shape alone. Can't remember where I got it but it cost $10.

Although tricky at first a mallard, mottled and black duck are super easy to ID in any plumage. A mallard has two white bars on their speculum, mottled ducks have one white bar and a black duck does not have any.

Great tip.

I myself need no help identifying ducks on the wing. Personally have never not been correct. It’s an art form. Years and years of experience shooting ducks made me an expert.

My problem is with all the dogs I’ve owned over the years. I shoot a gadwall, stupid dog brings back a hen pintail. Shoot a wigeon, dog brings back a stinking gadwall.
I always resend the dog to where the bird fell, but they never seem to be able to find the bird I actually shot.

 

[Oregon]

All kidding aside. Duck ID is extremely tricky and takes a lot of days in the marsh to get good. Flight/profile/where white on body is what my mind computes in a second or 2.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Do what every other 17 yr old does....shoot everything passing overhead and leave what's illegal or over limit......tossed in the weeds.

 

[FLAK]

Do what every other 17 yr old does....shoot everything passing overhead and leave what's illegal or over limit......tossed in the weeds.

This is what I'm trying to avoid.
Last year I shot at "something that looked like Buffleheads".
Never got a feather.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

In reality it takes time, reps, blind time, and some ground ID. Mostly it takes restraint. You put two hen Mallards on the strap and you had better REALLY dial it back. I am far from a Pro. But you will most likely find that if you can ID the birds and pick out drakes (any species) BEFORE you pull the trigger...they are probably in range to kill cleanly. If you are shooting at "Ducks" that all look the same....they are out there a bit.

Feet color and beak color can help a ton out there a bit. General size will help. When you get a group of mixed Mallard and Widg and Gaddys.....the Mallards will look like Geese comparatively.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

If found the are easiest to ID on the water...hell of lot easier to shoot to...lol

In all seriousness it just takes time...go out and scout a lot, any where there are ducks and watch, I used to go to a local park full of Mallards in the middle of Charlotte and watch them for 30-45 at a time.
Now I usually can tell divers or puddle ducks from they way the moving way off...then its a little easier when they get close. Honestly I can tell the difference between puddles and divers by the sound of there wings in the dark...Divers sounds like somebody tearing a peice of paper then a splash...puddle ducks you hear the wing beats more the closer to the water then a splash.

 

[Gulfgoose]

The way I try to teach my hunters to ID ducks on the wind is based on 1. Profile and 2. Flight characteristics.

 

[steadytowingandshot]

All kidding aside. Duck ID is extremely tricky and takes a lot of days in the marsh to get good. Flight/profile/where white on body is what my mind computes in a second or 2.

I agree. It just takes a lot of days hunting them to be good at it.

 

[Austink47]

Cornell’s merlin app is pretty good, there are lots of good apps. Obviously not while you are hunting but if you can go to a sanctuary or just in the off season and watch when they are less spooky.

 

[TheGDog]

First time ever last year, accompanying another first-timer. No dogs, he had waders, I didn't, so he was our "fetcher". He had a shotgun ill-equipped for the task. And I'm just beginning with shotguns, so don't yet instinctively know how much lead is required per perceived speed and distance away they are.

But I did finally manage to take a Pintail! But ooh lawdy I paid for that day with a mean case of the "Benelli Bite" on my middle finger. After a box of shells and shooting at all kindsa weird twisting body positioning.. and not really focusing on tight shouldering... man did that hand freakin' hurt. Must swole up like... maybe 4-5mm's!!!

Besides the dizzying array of rules regarding how many and of what sex... in regards to the ID'ing part though... the nice guy at the check-in station had a pamphlet/brochure paper-book kinda deal that was really cool. What I found most useful was how it noted the major distinctions on their faces and bill-shapes and coloring.. and even more importantly... it showed what a sihloutte of a few of them in flight would look like. So you saw the shapes of how they flew and could see the distinctions in the few frames of sihlouttes it showed.

When I get a second.. I'll go fish out that pamphlet and snap a pic and post it here.