{"id":4406,"date":"2014-12-03T07:54:11","date_gmt":"2014-12-03T12:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=4406"},"modified":"2015-11-20T10:22:05","modified_gmt":"2015-11-20T15:22:05","slug":"odd-ducks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/odd-ducks\/","title":{"rendered":"Odd Ducks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some of nature\u2019s most colorful waterfowl visit our lakes, rivers, and shores during the colder months. Here are five stylish ducks to watch out for.<\/p>\n

\"Northern

Northern shoveler \u00a9 Kristin Foresto<\/p><\/div>\n

Northern shoveler <\/strong>Anas clypeata<\/em><\/p>\n

One glance at this duck\u2019s enormous spatula-shaped bill \u2014used for straining prey from the water\u2014and you\u2019ll see why people call it a shoveler. The male resembles a mallard, but with a dark bill, white and chestnut sides, and piercing yellow eyes. The female is brown-speckled, but her oversized, orange-brown bill distinguishes her from similar species. Look for this bird in fresh- and saltwater marshes.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Credit

Credit Ken Schneider, Flickr user zonotrichia<\/p><\/div>\n

Bufflehead <\/strong>Bucephala albeola<\/em><\/p>\n

Why \u201cbufflehead\u201d? The name may originate from an old word for buffalo, referring to that animal\u2019s big fluffy head. Regardless, it helps make this little bird unmistakable. The female is brown, with a small white streak on the side of her head, and the male is mostly black and white. In winter it\u2019s especially fond of ocean bays, where it dives for its food.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Credit

Credit Jerry McFarland, Flickr user jerrygabby1<\/p><\/div>\n

Harlequin duck <\/strong>Histrionicus histrionicus<\/em><\/p>\n

True to its name, the male harlequin duck is as colorful as a clown, and its Latin name refers to actors and the theatre. The female is rich brown with a three white spots on her face. In winter, the harlequin is often found off rocky coasts. Listen for its high-pitched squeaks, which have caused people to nickname it \u201csea mouse\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Credit

Credit Russ, Flickr user russ_w<\/p><\/div>\n

Ruddy duck <\/strong>Oxyura jamaicensis<\/em><\/p>\n

If you spot a little a duck with its tail sticking up like a hand reaching for a high five, chances are it\u2019s a ruddy duck. In winter, the male ruddy duck loses its rusty-orange back and turns brownish; the female is also brownish, but she has an extra brown stripe under the eye. You are most likely to see the ruddy duck in lakes or on large freshwater ponds.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\u00a9

\u00a9 David Peller<\/p><\/div>\n

Red-breasted merganser <\/strong>Mergus serrator<\/em><\/p>\n

This species always looks like it\u2019s having bad hair day, and its bright red eyes give it an under-slept look. The green-headed male has a brown-red breast, and the female is mostly grey-brown. The word \u201cmerganser\u201d comes from the Latin words mergus<\/em>, or diver, and anser<\/em>, meaning goose. Look for the red-breasted merganser in salt water, where it expertly catches fish with its slender red beak lined with saw-like spines.<\/p>\n

For a chance to spot these and other amazing ducks, join an upcoming program<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Some of nature\u2019s most colorful waterfowl visit our lakes, rivers, and shores during the colder months. Here are five stylish ducks to watch out for. Northern shoveler Anas clypeata One glance at this duck\u2019s enormous spatula-shaped bill \u2014used for straining prey from the water\u2014and you\u2019ll see why people call it a shoveler. The male resembles […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nature-notes"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-194","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":12207,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-winter-ducks\/","url_meta":{"origin":4406,"position":0},"title":"Take 5: Winter Ducks","author":"Ryan D.","date":"January 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Winter is a wonderful time to see some colorful characters around your neighborhood\u2014namely wintering waterfowl. In late fall and winter, the majority of waterfowl species return to wearing their bright and more colorful breeding plumages and with more than 25 species of ducks, geese, and swans that regularly spend the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Harlequin Duck \u00a9 Carol Duffy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2982Carol_Duffy17397.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2982Carol_Duffy17397.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2982Carol_Duffy17397.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/01\/2982Carol_Duffy17397.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11751,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-migrating-waterfowl\/","url_meta":{"origin":4406,"position":1},"title":"Take 5: Migrating Waterfowl","author":"Ryan D.","date":"October 15, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall is a great time to see a\u00a0variety of waterfowl as they pass through Massachusetts on their way to their wintering grounds. Brant, Surf and White-winged Scoters, and Red-breasted Mergansers are best viewed along the sea coast, while Northern Pintails, Green-winged Teal, and Ring-necked Ducks are more likely to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Green-winged Teal \u00a9 Matt Filosa","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/10\/3417Matt_Filosa16547.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10602,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-caption-this\/","url_meta":{"origin":4406,"position":2},"title":"Take 5: Caption This!","author":"Ryan D.","date":"February 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Let's play \"Caption That Photo\"! Below are five photos of animals making funny faces or poses, submitted to our annual Picture This: Your Great Outdoors photo contest. What hilarious captions can you come up with?","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/3434Wayne_Wetherbee17375_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/3434Wayne_Wetherbee17375_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/02\/3434Wayne_Wetherbee17375_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10709,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/take-5-mallards-on-the-move\/","url_meta":{"origin":4406,"position":3},"title":"Take 5: Mallards on the Move","author":"Ryan D.","date":"April 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ducks are a familiar sight in our urban and suburban parks, having adapted over time to thrive in developed areas.\u00a0There are dozens of species of ducks, but thanks to Robert McCloskey's popular children's book\u00a0Make Way for Ducklings, most folks are familiar with the Mallard species, the most abundant waterfowl in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Take 5"","block_context":{"text":"Take 5","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/take-5\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/1293HienNguyen4387_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/1293HienNguyen4387_fi.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2018\/03\/1293HienNguyen4387_fi.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1154,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/birding-after-migration\/","url_meta":{"origin":4406,"position":4},"title":"Birding After Migration","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"We have turned the seasonal corner. The swallows are gone, the egrets have fled, and \u00a0shorebirds and warblers have pushed their way south. You may well ask, \u201cWhat do we do we look for now?\u201d In many ways, Massachusetts is perfectly suited for winter birding, thanks in part to our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nature Notes"","block_context":{"text":"Nature Notes","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/nature-notes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2012\/11\/purple-sandpiper_Richard-Johnson-and-Mass-Audubon.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8918,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wellfleets-not-so-lame-ducks-mabirdathon\/","url_meta":{"origin":4406,"position":5},"title":"Wellfleet\u2019s Not-so-Lame Ducks #mabirdathon","author":"Hillary T.","date":"April 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Wellfleet Lame Ducks, part of the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Bird-a-thon team, are an accomplished fundraising force of beginner and intermediate birders. Hear\u00a0from team leader, Peggy Sagan (pictured far right), about how the flock formed. The idea for the Lame Ducks was hatched in 2011. At that time, there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Get Involved"","block_context":{"text":"Get Involved","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/get-involved\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/lameducksbinocs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/lameducksbinocs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2017\/04\/lameducksbinocs.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4406"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6601,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4406\/revisions\/6601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}