Species, Age and Sex Identification of Ducks Using Wing Plumage

by

Samuel M. Carney
Washington, D.C. 1992
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

"Procedures have been developed over the past 30 years for managing the take of waterfowl by hunters. Wings of ducks contributed voluntarily to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by hunters are examined each year by experts. This procedure involves the determination of species, sex, and age of ducks through an examination of these detached wings. Many persons skilled at examining wings of ducks have retired in recent years. We became concerned that these skills might be lost to future generations if not properly documented. Documenting such skills is difficult. Subtle differences in feather color and feather texture are used to distinguish young ducks from adult ducks and males from females. Printed words and pictures have their limitations, but we hope this publication captures the technique and preserves it."

-- John F. Turner, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Carney, Samuel M.  1992.  Species, age and sex identification of ducks using 
     wing plumage.  U. S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
     Service, Washington, D.C.  144pp.

Carney, Samuel M.  1992.  Species, age and sex identification of ducks using 
     wing plumage.  U. S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
     Service, Washington, D.C.  Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
     Home Page.  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/tools/duckplum/duckplum.htm
     (Version 05DEC97).

• Introduction
• Key to duck species
• Feather groups of the duck wing

Separation of Species

• Separation of Redhead and Canvasback
• Separation of Greater and Lesser Scaups
• Separation of Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes
• Separation of Bufflehead and Hooded Merganser
• Separation of Red-breasted and Common Mergansers
• Separation of Oldsquaw, Black Scoter, and Surf Scoter

Individual Species

• Mallard
• American black duck
• Mottled duck
• Gadwall
• American wigeon
• Green-winged teal
• Blue-winged and cinnamon teals
• Northern shoveler
• Northern pintail
• Wood duck
• Harlequin duck
• Steller's eider
• Redhead
• Canvasback
• Greater scaup
• Lesser scaup
• Ring-necked duck
• Common goldeneye
• Barrow's goldeneye
• Bufflehead
• Hooded merganser
• Red-breasted merganser
• Common merganser
• Oldsquaw
• Black scoter
• Surf scoter
• White-winged scoter
• Common eider
• King eider
• Ruddy duck
• Fulvous whistling duck
• Black-bellied whistling duck

duckplum.zip ( bytes) -- Species, Age and Sex Identification of Ducks Using Wing Plumage