At last count, there are 25 different breeds of ducks in and around Florida. Known for their gentle nature, ducks are a sight to see on the water or even waddling across the land.
Ducks are also the largest population among waterfowl in the United States. These gorgeous waterfowl are domesticated and often kept for their eggs, meat, and even as pets to many households.
Have you ever wondered exactly how many breeds of ducks there are in Florida? Have you ever wondered what those breeds are? In this guide, we’ll give you the 25 breeds of ducks in Florida and a little bit about them as well.
The 25 Breeds of Duck in Florida
1. Mallard (Anas Platyrhynchos)
These ducks are medium-sized waterfowl with a body length of 20 to 26 inches and a wingspan of between 32 to 39 inches. They are omnivores. They are also known for their far and wide range of breeding, as well as populating temperate and subtropical regions.
The male of the breed has a gorgeous emerald green head with a gray body, while the female has more of a brownish body and a speckled plumage.
2. Mottled Duck (Anas Fulvigula)
These ducks are more commonly known as mottled mallards and have a body length of 18 to 22 inches and a wingspan of between 31 and 44 inches. Their lifespan is around five years, and they are omnivores. These ducks are most closely related to American black ducks.
The male of the breed has a bright yellow bill, while the female has a pale orange bill. Both males and females are the same color, a dark brown, with a lighter shade on their heads.
3. American Black Duck (Anas Rubripes)
American black ducks are some of the largest and heaviest of the Florida duck species. They have a body length of 21 to 23 inches and a wingspan of between 35 and 37 inches. This breed of ducks are omnivores, and they live around 27 years, much longer than some of the breeds on our list. These ducks have been thought of as game birds for years now.
The male of the breed has a yellow bill, while the female bill is a dull green. Other than that, both sexes have the same coloring.
4. White-Cheeked Pintail (Anas Bahamensis)
The white-cheeked pintail is also known by the names summer duck and bahaman pintail. This species can be found mostly in swamps and the brackish lakes in Florida. The body length for this breed is 18 to 20 inches, with a wingspan of between 22 and 25 inches. They are omnivores and live for about 6.5 years on average.
The sexes in this breed seem mostly alike, with a brown body, white cheeks, and a bill that’s gray with a red base.
5. American Wigeon (Mareca Americana)
This is a medium-sized duck that has a body length of 17 to 23 inches and a wingspan that reaches between 30 to 36 inches. This breed is also omnivores and have a lifespan of roughly two years, one of the lowest life spans on our list.
Both sexes of this breed have round heads and short necks. They also have a small, pale-blue bill that is tipped in black. Their bellies are white, and their feet and legs are gray.
6. Gadwall (Mareca Strepera)
Some of the most widespread species of ducks in Florida, the gadwall, can be found in steppe lakes and in other places on the prairies. Their body length is between 18 and 22 inches, and their wingspan reaches between 31 to 35 inches. These ducks are omnivores and have a lifespan of around 28 years.
The males of this breed are larger than the females. They are also heavier than the females as well. Both feature a light brown plumage.
7. Northern Pintail (Anas Acuta)
The northern pintails are migratory ducks. These are large ducks with a body length of 20 to 30 inches and a 31 to 37 inches wingspan. They are omnivores and have a lifespan of between 15 and 25 years.
The male of the species is quite a bit larger than the female. The male has a chocolate brown head and has white stripes running down his neck. He also has a blue bill, white breast, and gray feathers that are covered in black stripes.
On the other hand, the females have light brown bodies, long, gray bills, and a brownish-gray head. They also have short, pointed tails.
8. Greater Scaup (Aythya Marila)
This breed is often referred to as just the scaup and is a medium-sized duck. The breed has 15 to 22 inches of body length and a wingspan of between 28 and 33 inches. They are omnivores and have an average lifespan of between 10 and 12 years.
The male is larger, and his face is rounder than the female of this breed. The males have a dark head with a green iridescence, a white belly, a black breast, and a blue bill. Their wings are covered by bold white stripes.
The female of the breed has a paler bill and a mostly brown body.
9. Redhead (Aythya Americana)
The redhead breed is named after their redhead. They are a medium-sized duck with a body length of 15 inches and a wingspan of 33 inches. This is an omnivorous breed, and they have a lifespan of around 21 years.
The males sport a white belly, gray sides, a pale blue bill, and have a lighter shade of gray that covers their sides and behind. Their heads are brown but change to a copperish color during mating season.
The female has a brown breast, white belly, grayish brown plumage, and a slate-colored bill.
10. Cinnamon Teal (Spatula Cyanoptera)
Cinnamon teals are small-sized ducks that are mostly found in marshes and ponds. They have a body length of 16 inches and a wingspan of 22 inches. They are omnivores and have a lifespan of about 12 years.
The males have a cinnamon-red body and head, a dark bill, and even red eyes. The females have brown eyes, a gray bill, and paler heads, as well as a brown body that is mottled.
11. Ring-Necked Duck (Aythya Collaris)
This breed of duck can be found in the freshwaters and ponds throughout Florida. It’s a medium-sized duck with a 15-to-18-inch body length and a wingspan of 24.4 to 28.8 inches. These ducks are omnivores and have a lifespan of five to 10 years on average.
Males are slightly bigger than females in this species. The males have a shiny back and black head, yellow eyes, and a white breast. The females have grayish bodies and heads with a dark bill and either black or dark brown eyes.
12. Canvasback (Aythya Valisineria)
This breed is the largest diving duck in North America. They have a body length of 19 to 22 inches and a wingspan between 31 to 35 inches. They are omnivores and have a lifespan of about 16 years.
The males feature a black rump, gray back, black breast, a chestnut red head, and a brownish-black tail. While the female’s darker undersides and a dark chest, as well as a light brown neck and head.
13. Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus Histrionicus)
This breed of duck was named after a colorful character in an 18th-century play and the way that character dressed. It’s a small duck of the sea that’s called Lord and Lady in some places. It has a body length of 15 to 17 inches and a wingspan of 26 inches. It’s an omnivore and has an average lifespan of 12 years.
The females sport a brownish-gray plumage, which makes the male the prettier of the two with his slate-blue neck and head and other bright features.
14. Northern Shoveler (Spatula Clypeata)
This breed is a migratory duck that has a very long range. You can tell this breed of duck by the very large spatulate bill they have, which is larger than other bird species you’ll find in Florida. They have an average wingspan of 30 inches and a body length of 19 inches. This breed is omnivorous and has a lifespan of between 15 and 20 years.
The breeding males have dark heads, and the females dull, brown, mottled bodies and forewings that are gray.
15. Blue-Winged Teal (Spatula Discors)
The blue-winged teal duck is a small-sized migratory bird that lands in Florida during the winter months. They have a body length of 16 inches and a wingspan of 23 inches. They are also omnivores and have an average lifespan of around 17 years.
Males have bodies that are light brown, black tails, white patches on their rumps, and white crescents on their faces. They also have grayish-blue heads.
The females have whitish patches on the base of their bills and brown bodies that are mottled.
16. Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula Hyemalis)
The long-tailed duck is also named oldsquaw in some areas. These are medium-sized ducks with a wingspan of 28 inches and a body length of 17 to 23 inches. They are omnivores, and their lifespan is about 15.3 years.
This breed has been classified as having a vulnerable conservation status. Both the female and the male of the breed have white underpants. However, the male has a dark neck, back, and head with a white patch on their cheek. The female has the same head, expect their heads will grow a dark crown during the winter, while the male’s neck and head will turn a brown color instead.
17. Bufflehead (Bucephala Albeola)
This is a small-sized sea duck that was named by the unique shape of its head. Their heads are actually compared to a buffalo’s head quite often. This breed has a wingspan of 21.6 inches and a body length of 13 to 16 inches. They are omnivores and have an average lifespan of around 2.5 years.
The males have a white and black head with a green and purple iridescence. The female of the breed has a black head and has a small white patch on each side of her head. Both of them have the classic golden eyes of the breed.
18. Surf Scoter (Melanitta Perspicillata)
These are large sea ducks that have a wingspan of 29 to 30 inches and a body length of 19 inches. They are an omnivorous breed and have a lifespan expectancy of 9.5 years.
They are about the same in plumage, size, and mass. The males are, however, larger and heavier than the females and have a black velvet body, whereas the female’s body is brown.
19. Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa)
The wood duck is also called the Carolina duck. This breed has a body length of 19 to 21 inches and a wingspan of 26 to 29 inches. They are omnivores and have a lifespan of four years on average.
The males have a brilliant multi-colored plumage, but the females have a dull body that is speckled heavily. They both have their signature crested head.
20. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala Clangula)
The common goldeneye is usually found in lakes and rivers. It is a medium-sized duck with a wingspan of 30 to 32 inches and a body length of 18 to 20 inches. They are omnivores and have an average lifespan of 11 to 12 years.
The males are larger and heavier than the females and have a greenish sheen to their otherwise dark heads. The female, on the other hand, has a dark brown head. Both sexes have the signature golden eyes and yellow legs and feet.
21. Common Merganser (Mergus Merganser)
Also known as the goosander, the common merganser is a large-sized sea duck. It has a wingspan of 31 to 38 inches and a body length of between 23 to 28 inches. This breed is omnivorous and has a lifespan of 1 to 8 years on average.
Males are larger than the females of the breed. All of this breed’s bodies are white with a hint of salmon pink.
22. Muscovy Duck (Cairina Moschata)
The muscovy duck is a large-sized duck that has long claws and a wide, flat tail to distinguish it from the other breeds. It has a wingspan of 4.6 to 5 feet and a body length of 25 to 34 inches. They are omnivores and have a lifespan of eight to 12 years.
The males of the breed are bigger than the females, and the wild muscovy ducks have black bodies with white patches on their wings.
23. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura Jamaicensis)
Small ducks with stiff tails, the ruddy duck has a wingspan of 18.5 inches and a body length of 13.5 to 17 inches. They are omnivores and have an average lifespan of one to eight years.
They breed in lakes and marshy ponds, and the males have a black cap and white cheeks. The females, on the other hand, are brown instead of the dull gray of the male.
24. Masked Duck (Nomonyx Dominicus)
The masked duck is a small-sized duck that has a wingspan of 20 inches and a body length of 12 to 14 inches. They are omnivores, and their lifespan is unknown.
The males that are breeding have black faces, whereas the other males, juveniles, and females have horizontal stripes running across their faces.
25. King Eider (Somateria Spectabilis)
The king eider is a large sea duck that is heavier and larger than the female of the species. They have a wingspan of 34 to 40 inches and a body length of 20 to 28 inches. They are omnivores and have a lifespan of around 19 years.
Final Thoughts
This concludes our guide on the 25 types of ducks in Florida. If you’re ever in Florida, you’ll now know the different breeds and can pick them out easily to impress your friends.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay