Birds Within the Waters: An Introduction to Waterfowl 

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Picture a bird sitting on a tree branch. You’ll likely picture a common passerine (or a vague image of one) such as a sparrow, finch, warbler, robin, etc. Now, picture a bird swimming in a pond or a lake. The image that now arises for most people is probably a duck. Ducks (Mallards in particular) are almost the quintessential waterfowl. So much so, that most people overlook the water birds among the ducks, or group them with the ducks. Yet, there are various interesting and diverse species among the common waterfowl (although I would argue even the ‘basic’ species are fascinating).

Once you understand and appreciate these species, observing water birds of every kind can be just as fascinating as observing any other bird type. Providing a basis for such an understanding and examining the different categories of waterfowl and some common species within these categories is what this post aims to do (Note - there are a vast number of species within each of these categories, so the ‘common species’ sections will mostly highlight species I am personally familiar with. This means that the species are primarily common in North America, and not always in other parts of the world). 

Ducks

Who else could I start with? Even among ducks, there are distinct categories that species are commonly grouped in. These categories primarily differentiate by how they feed. The two main categories are diving and dabbling. A Mallard, for instance, is what is known as a dabbling duck. In search of food, dabbling ducks tip over into water without completely submerging themselves (about half their body sticks upwards into the air). They can also search for food by using their bills to skim the surface of the water. Diving ducks, on the other hand, do completely submerge themselves while foraging. They also have feet that are less centered respective to their bodies as opposed to dabbling ducks, making them slightly worse at walking on land.

One method of identifying a duck as either dabbling or diving is to watch their height above the water. Since dabbling ducks search for food near the surface, they will be positioned high above the water. Diving ducks, however, search for food located deeper in the water, so they will sit lower in the water. There are also sub-categories, such as mergansers. Mergansers are a diving duck that feed on fish, and are characterized by their thinner and longer beaks with slightly jagged edges. 

Some common duck species include:

Wood Duck - A dabbling duck with a green, crested head, and an intricately patterned plumage. Females have a shorter and less pronounced crest, and have mostly grey/brown plumage. 

Hooded Merganser - Mostly black plumage with some brown and a white breast. The most distinctive feature is the large black and white crest, which can also be lowered. Females have a similarly striking crest, but are mostly grey and white. 

Common Goldeneye - As the name implies, goldeneyes are easily recognized by their bright yellow eyes. Common goldeneyes also possess a large head, with males bearing a green head with a round, white patch behind the beak, while females have a brown head with a yellow strip at the tip of their bill.

Bufflehead - A unique duck characterized by its colorful and large head with a white patch. Females have a less colorful head and smaller white patch. Buffleheads also fall under the same genus as goldeneyes (bucephala). 

Coots

If you live in North America, you have most likely seen a fair share of American Coots (there are other coot species in different parts of the world that bear a similar appearance, such as the Eurasian Coot). Because of their similar size (although coots have more chicken-like body proportions), they often get confused for ducks. The interesting part about this is that coots are not related to ducks at all. Ducks (alongside geese and swans) are part of the order Anseriformes, while coots are part of the order Gruiformes. Gruiformes is an order that comprises cranes or ‘crane-like’ birds, which means that coots are actually more closely related to cranes than ducks.

Another interesting note - you could technically argue that coots, grebes, and loons are not ‘true’ waterfowl, as Anseriformes is the order for waterfowl (or more specifically, the family Anatidae, as Anseriformes also includes screamers, which are not typically grouped in with other waterfowl). This is not a colloquially relevant distinction, as ‘waterfowl’ is usually used to refer to aquatic birds in general, but an interesting one nonetheless.

Coots bear an almost entirely black plumage with a white beak and red eyes. One of the main differences between coots and ducks has to do with their feet. Ducks have webbed feet, while coots have broad, flapped lobes attached to their toes. These lobes help coots propel themselves through water (similarly to webbing) while also allowing them to walk on various surfaces (including dry, wet, and uneven ones). This is because the lobes are able to fold back when a coot lifts its leg. You’ll probably find coots in large flocks, with some ducks commonly being in the mix. 

Note the size discrepancy between the duck and the coot. Ducks are generally much larger.

Grebes

Grebes are part of the Podicipediformes order, and are more closely related to flamingos than ducks. Similarly to coots, they possess lobed feet. Generally, their toes are not as long as a coot’s. Their feet are also further back, which helps them swim underwater (grebes are excellent divers). They also tend to have somewhat short and stubby beaks in comparison to other water birds. 

Some common grebe species include: 

Pied-billed Grebe - A small bird with a stubby beak and mostly brown plumage. A breeding adult can be identified by a vertical black stripe around the bill, while nonbreeding adults or immature grebes lack this stripe. 

Horned Grebe - Breeding adults bear a distinctive black head with orange tufts, while non breeding adults have a black cap with white cheeks. Their bill is also much thinner than a pied-billed grebe. 

Little Grebe - While the pied-billed grebe is seen across North America, little grebes are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa (though predominantly in Europe). Breeding adults bear a dark grey plumage with some brown around the cheek and neck. Non breeding adults are a bit lighter, but have a similar dark grey cap. 

Loons

Loons are part of the order Gaviiformers. Their mystical, almost eerie wail makes them easy to identify. I like to think of loons as an extreme version of grebes, but with webbed feet instead of lobed toes. Their legs are even further back, and they can dive even further than grebes (upwards of 200 feet!). The positioning of their legs makes it very awkward for them to walk on land, so they spend most of their lives in the water (pretty much only ever leaving the water to nest). Sightings of them walking is how they acquired the name ‘loon’ (which I, for one, think is a bit of an unfair name, given how they’re such amazing swimmers and fliers). Compared to other waterfowl, loons possess a sleeker, longer bill. They also tend to be positioned somewhat lower in the water. These two details result in a unique and recognizable appearance in water. 

There are fewer loon species, but some examples are:

Geese

Another classic waterfowl that most people are familiar with, and likely the second image people would picture when they think of waterfowl. Geese, like ducks, are part of the Anatidae family (and thus have webbed feet), but are much bigger and have longer necks. Geese are known to graze on land, and have a similar diet to ducks in water (mainly consisting of aquatic plants and invertebrates). Geese tend to gather and travel in large flocks. Geese also tend to be migratory. 

Some common species include:

Canada Goose - A classic goose that has a variety of subspecies and even some descendents (such as the nene, the state bird of Hawaii). Has a brown body with a long, black neck and face with a strip of white. 

Snow Goose - A goose with almost fully white plumage besides its black wingtips. Smaller than a Canada goose. Be sure to not confuse these with fully-white, domesticated goose species, which are generally taller and have no black wingtips. 

Ross's Goose  - Very similar to a snow goose, bearing a white body with black wingtips. The obvious difference between the two has to do with size; Ross’s geese are smaller, and have smaller bills. 

Swans

Swans are the third “traditional” waterfowl within the Anatidae family. They are generally somewhat less common than ducks and geese, but their symbolism across many cultures and distinctive appearance has made them equally recognizable. They are a symbol for many ideas, but are especially known as a symbol for love due to their mating for life (as opposed to ducks, who mate seasonally, and geese, who mate once a year), and their mating or bonding rituals. Swans are even larger than geese, with longer necks and stronger wings. 

The 6 species of swans include some prominent North American species (excluding the Coscoroba swan, which is now considered to be a part of a separate genus):

Mute Swan - Easily recognized by their orange bill with black at the base of it. They also have a black “knob” at the base of their bill. Mute swans are likely what most people picture when envisioning a swan, and are often used in folklore and fairytales. They are not silent like their name implies, but the sounds and calls they make are quieter and less distinctive than other swan species’ calls. 

Trumpeter Swan - Very large and heavy swan with a straight black bill. Trumpeter swans are huge, and are the largest waterfowl. 

Tundra Swan - Similarly to the trumpeter swans, they are pure white with a black bill, though they typically have a little bit of yellow at the base of their bill.

Trumpeter vs Tundra - These species can be difficult to tell apart, but have a few key differences. Likely the easiest way to tell them apart is their call – trumpeter swans, as their name implies, produce a loud, trumpet-like sound (or bugle-like). Tundra swans have a higher-pitched call. 

Other species: 

Whooper Swan - An Eurasian swan with white plumage, yellow bill with black at the tip of it. Quite large (near the size of a trumpeter swan). 

Black Swan - Unlike the majority of swans, who are mostly white, black swans bear an entirely black plumage. They also have a red beak, and are primarily found in Australia and New Zealand.

Black-necked Swan - A swan widespread throughout South America, which possesses a white body and black neck. They have a grey beak with red at the base of it. 

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More helpful resources can be found here: 

• Dabblers vs Divers | Missouri Department of Conservation 

• Better Know a Bird: The American Coot and Its Wonderfully Weird Feet | Audubon 

• Waterfowl Basics: Get Your Ducks (and Coots, and Grebes) in a Row 

• Pied-billed grebes: Not a duck, but still a waterbird 

• Common Loon Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

• Pied-billed Grebe Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

• Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 

• Pacific Loon Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 

• Swans: Facts, Threats, Habitat, and FAQs | IFAW 

• Mute Swan Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

• Swan Identification & Behavior  

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