Taken in October, this bird is coming out of eclipse (alternate) plumage. I'm pretty sure this is a female with the new feathers coming in on the back of the neck are the reddish-orange of the female plumage. Males will be moulting in bottle-green feathers on the head and upper neck and with have salmon-white feathers on the underparts and flanks

• Red shoveler

• Pato pico cuchara sudamericano

Scientific classification:

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Aves

Order:Anseriformes

Family:Anatidae

Genus:Spatula

Species:S. platalea

Laguna Nimez, El Calafate, Lago Argentino, Santa Cruz, Argentina

This chunky white-and-black goose is often common and conspicuous on Andean bogs and lakeshores; usually in pairs or small groups and can be confiding in areas where not hunted. Note the small pink bill and pink legs; sexes alike but the male is larger. Local overlap in Andes of central Chile with Upland Goose. Male Upland Geese have a black bill and legs, and dark barring on body. Like the other species in this genus, males give high wheezy whistles whereas females grunt and bray. (eBird)

Mountain pass grasslands, Cuzco, Peru. October 2018.

Anser anser

This juvenile Trumpeter Swan does the wing exercise thing in place - a common behavior - and I note tiny parts of feathers are in the air... I always wonder why they do this? A simple stretch of the wings/muscles? Warming things up for flying? What do you think?

Taken 25 September 2020 near Wasilla, Alaska.

Pacific Black duck and her brood. Sexual dimorphism is minimal in this species but the females tend to have broader edges to the feathers and have a browner crown, so my bets are on this being a female. Pacific Black Ducks are found from southern Sumatra through S Indonesia and New Guinea through the SW Pacific islands and New Zealand and its offshore islands

There is a large naturalised population of Greylags in Central Scotland. True Native birds are only found in northwest Scotland and the Western and Northern Islands

Colorful miniature waterfowl that is smaller than most ducks. Both sexes have rufous underparts, a dark back, white on the face, and white on the wing in flight. Males have a green patch on the back of the head and a yellow bill; females have a black-and-white head and a dark bill. Found in freshwater wetlands with floating vegetation, especially water lilies. Shy and inconspicuous, as it generally avoids open water. Voice is a high-pitched squeaking. Small size and bold and colorful plumage separate it from other waterfowl. (eBird)

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There was a nice little flock of these pretty ducks to be seen at the wetland. The male, with his bold green head, was a lovely find.

Kpong Wetland, Ghana. February 2019.

Ashanti African Tours.

Please, no invitations to award/forced comment groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.

Breeding males are stunning with ornate, colorful patterns visible up close; appears dark overall at a distance. Females gray-brown with thin white eyering. Crest on head. Found in wetlands and flooded woods. Flies through trees with exceptional maneuverability, thanks to its long tail. Often shy and quick to flush. Call is a loud, screeching whistle. (eBird)

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The male Wood Duck was trying to offer a clam to the female, but she did not appear interested. He followed her for quite a while before I lost track of them in the masses of ducks on the river.

Farran Park, Ingleside, Ontario, Canada. October 2024.

Eastern Ontario Birding

This Common Merganser is swimming by me in this image with it's head feathers making me think of a punk style of hairdo, rather common to see with this bird.

Taken 14 October 2019 in Anchorage, Alaska.

A huge flock of Pink-footed Geese (and 2 Barnacles in with them) were at Haughs of Airth this morning but it was raining. By the time I had finished my shopping trip the sun was shining and although most had flown off some still showed well

The wing speculum on the Common Teal, and its close relative the aptly-named Green-winged Teal, is such a brilliant green. It varies with the angle of the light but this shot makes it absolutely pop

Aiguamolls de l'Empordà - Catalogne - Espagne

Male Tufted Duck coming in to land

Etang de Scamandre

A trip to Linlithgow this afternoon to try out my new piece of kit - a monopod. Given the very strong winds today, it was a good choice, but even then, I was nearly getting blown over. Stability was good overall and I'm very pleased with the results.

Also hiding in the flooded undergowth at Balloch yesterday

(Branta canadensis)

At Broadwood Loch, Cumbernauld

Some more from Linlithgow yesterday.

Please, no invitations to award groups or to those with large/animated comment codes.

Medium-sized duck; smaller than a Mallard. Huge, spoon-shaped bill visible at a distance and in flight. Breeding males have dark green head, white breast, and chestnut sides and belly. Females buffy-brown with large, distinctive bill. Chalky-blue upperwing. Forages by sifting through the water, often swimming in spirals in groups. (eBird)

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An always welcome find, this time in our local conservation area and surprisingly close to shore. Of course, he sensed the camera and took off for the sheltered spots where photos were impossible. Still, I got a few nice shots in the sun before he reached his hiding spot.

Britannia Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. May 2024.

A Trumpeter Swan lands at Lake Artemesia in College Park, Maryland. This Swan is not indigenous to this area so I'm guessing it used to be kept as a pet?

I'd heard that we had one at Lake Artemesia and sure enough it was there. I photographed it for a bit but then it took off and looked like it was leaving. I focused on my camera for a bit and then surprise, the swan came back and I just had time to capture it landing.

Taken 12 December 2016.

Happy New Year to all my Flickr friends!!

I reached back to the archives for this one. A beautifully colored Wood Duck drake keeps an eye out for dangers to him and his hen by hoisting his head high to see what's around.

Taken 7 March 2016 at Buddy Attick Park, Greenbelt, Maryland.

At Rieselfelder Munster

Velvet Scoter

Quetro Cabeza Blanca - No Volador

Tachyeres leucocephalus Humphrey & Thompson, 1981

White-headed Steamerduck

Familia: Anatidae

Orden: Anseriformes

Clase: Aves

Filo: Chordata

Reino: Animalia

Barnacle Geese in a hurry to join the flocks feeding in the fields...too many in the sky to count...great to see! WWT Caerlaverock

Floats low in the water with an enormous "shovel-like" bill. Males are more brightly colored and have yellow eyes. Females are plainer brown with darker eyes. Note obvious bright orange legs when scanning a row of perched ducks. Feeds on the surface with head submerged. Usually found in large inland wetlands and sewage ponds. (eBird)

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We had missed these lovely ducks in Australia so were very happy to find them frequently in NZ. To my North American eyes, this beautiful male seems to be a cross between the Northern Shoveler and the Blue-winged Teal.

Grovetown Lagoon, Marlborough, New Zealand. March 2024.

Roadrunner Birding Tours.

Monsieur et madame !

İZLANDA: Husavik; 19.06.2013

Breeding male with its long tail and colorful plumage.

WWT Caerlaverock hosts members of the Svalbard population of this attractive goose. Despite devastating losses of over 10 000 birds on the reserve in 2021/22 due to HPAI the birds are gradually making a comeback and are a truly spectacular sight over the Solway Marshes where around 30 000 gather during the winter

Looking good in the winter sun

Female and youngster, WWT Caerlaveock

(Mergus serrator)

Bygdøy - Oslo

Noruega

==================***==================

All my photos are now organized into sets by the country where they were taken, by taxonomic order, by family, by species (often with just one photo for the rarer ones), and by the date they were taken.

So, you may find:

- All the photos for this trip Noruega (2018 + 2022) (34)

- All the photos for this order ANSERIFORMES (176)

- All the photos for this family Anatidae (Anatídeos) (194)

- All the photos for this species Mergus serrator (6)

- All the photos taken this day 2022/05/28 (8)

==================***==================

Got my new RF100-500mm to go with my Canon R6 and had a quick try out this afternoon whilst there was a bit of sunshine

A flyby grab after some idiot disturbed roosting ducks at the river mouth...distant shot but nice to see...some Eider bokeh at the back...Musselburgh

Fortune has smiled on me once more by letting me capture a Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage - a duck I think Walt Disney must have had a hand in creating, given the gorgeous and distinctive colors this drake wears while breeding!

I captured this drake while visiting Guajome Lake Regional Park. While surveying the numerous coots and other birds responding to being fed, I spied this drake and a couple of females doing their courtship nearby.

Taken 15 February 2018 at Guajome Lake Regional Park.

There were several American Wigeons in the pond during my visit to this park in Oregon. This handsome drake with that gorgeous green iridescence gave me a nice profile as it swam by.

I was playing with low perspective with my new Canon R5. I can see how that fold out screen is going to help me a lot!

Taken 2 April 2021 at Alton Baker Park, Eugene, Oregon

Pinkies coming in to land

Aix sponsa (M)

They have a lovely gentle expression. Pittenwwem harbour is a great place for them during winter and early spring before they all go off to breed

This bird was photographed in November and is in transition from eclipse plumage to full breeding

A lovely pair of Common Eider in winter sunlight at Port Seton yesterday

A quick trip out to Kinneil today but the light faded so quickly when some high cirrus came over.

There were four cygnets with two parents in the pond. This little one appears to swim up to mom with a look of love ;)

Taken 24 June 2022 near Wasilla, Alaska.

Tadorne casarca (Tadorna ferruginea)

Les mâles sont reconnaissable à leurs colliers noir.

Ce matin du 12 janvier une colonie de 30 Tadornes casarca sont de passage à la réserve.

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Merci beaucoup à toutes et tous pour votre visite, commentaire et appréciation. Je vous souhaite une belle journée!

Thank you very much to everyone for your visit, comment and appreciation. I wish you a nice day!

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Male Eider frames by part of a fishing boat at Pittenweem. Gorgeous light!