Mallard Hen
Hens quack loudly; drakes emit a soft "kewk".

Black Duck
Looks like a darker version of a hen mallard. White underwings and pale head contrast with a dark body. Often flies with mallards. Hens and drakes have a similar appearance.

Pintail drake
Look for a long pointed tail and a white neck, breast and belly. 

Pintail hen

Gadwall drake
Look for a white patch on the back of each wing and a white belly. 

Gadwall hen
A gadwall flock looks like a flock of small, slim mallard hens. Gadwalls emit a short, low "kack" call .

Wood Duck drake
Look for a long tail, a large head held high in flight and a white belly and chin. 

Wood Duck hen
Frequently emits a long squealing call in flight.
Wood ducks frequent woods along
streams or flooded timber.

Wigeon drake
Look for white patches on the shoulder, white forehead and a green eye band.

Wigeon hen

Shoveler Drake
Look for a wide, spoon-like bill, a white breast, a dark belly and pale blue shoulder patches.

Shoveler hen
Look for an orange, spoon-like bill. 
Otherwise, looks like a small mallard hen.

Common Goldeneye
Distinctive wing-whistling sound in flight has earned the name of "whistlers." These
are active, strong-winged fliers moving singly or in small flocks. Generally seen on
large rivers and lakes. Look for chunky body, fast direct flight, flash of white on wing.

Blue-winged teal drake
Look for rapid, twisting flight in dense flocks. Shoulders are pale blue. Less than one-third the size of a mallard.

Blue-winged teal hen

Green-winged teal drake
The smallest duck seen in Arkansas. A fast duck that flies in dense flocks similar to those of blue-winged teal.

Green-winged teal hen
Both sexes appear pale underneath and dark on top. Two pale lines on the top of wings are often visible.

Canvasback drake
Look for a red head, a pale-colored body 
with a dark breast.  
Arkansas’ largest and fastest duck. 

Canvasback hen

The same distinctive profile as the drake.
Wingbeats are noisy and rapid.

Redhead drake
Looks similar to a canvasback except its forehead is more rounded.  Its bill is blue with a white and black tip.

Redhead hen

Ruddy duck drake
When flying, their small wings stroke so fast they resemble bumblebees.
Look for white cheek patch on males.

Ruddy duck hen
Both hens and drakes are similar in 
appearance during the fall. 

Bufflehead drake
Bold black and white color pattern.

Bufflehead hen
Small, fast-flying duck. Look for white on its head and wings. Plump appearance.

Ringneck drake

Swift, erratic flight. Look for a dark head 
and breast with a white belly. 
A dark back and wings helps distinguish
this duck in flight from scaup.

Hooded Merganser drake
A hooded merganser is small with a "hood," and has black and white on each wing patch feather.

Hooded Merganser hen
Mergansers have narrow, pointed bills. 

Red-Breasted Merganser drake
Uncommon in Arkansas. Flight is strong and direct, usually low over the water. Difficult to distinguish in flight from the common merganser.

Red-Breasted Merganser hen
Female’s head and neck are paler than 
female Common Merganser.

Common Merganser drake
Flocks move in "follow the leader" style, low over the water. Look for green head and white body on the drake.

Common Merganser hen
 Female’s bright chestnut, crested head contrast sharply with white chin and breast.