Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Brazilian Teal
Latin: Amazonetta brasiliensis
Other: Brazilian Duck • Pé-vermelho (Br) • Pato brasilero (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks

The Brazilian Teal lives in South America, including most of Brazil. I found it easiest to identify by the triangular patch of white in its speculum feathers. The male has a red bill, the female a dark bill and small light patches on the face. Both have a few spots on the side of their chest.

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Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Silver Teal
Latin: Anas versicolor
Other: Marreca-cricri (Br) • Pato-argentino • Quiri-quiri • Pato capuchino (Es) • Cerceta argentina
Family: Anatidae • Ducks

The Silver Teal lives in southern South America, including Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, migrating a little further north during the southern winter. It is distinguished by its two-tone head, with dark cap, pink/yellow and blue bill, and striped flank.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Red Shoveler
Latin: Anas platalea
Other: Marreca-colhereira (Br) • Pato Pico Cuchara Sudamericano (Es)
Family: Anatidae • Ducks • Shovelers

The Red Shoveler lives in southern South America. In Brazil, it can be seen in Rio Grande do Sul during the southern hemisphere winter. The bird above looks like a female from its dark iris and relatively muted colours.

There are four Shovelers (Red, Cape, Australasian, Northern) worldwide, quickly recognisable by their broad bills.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Lagoa do Peixe, RS • November 2009

Bird name: Yellow Billed Pintail
Latin: Anas georgica
Other: Marreca-parda (Br) • Pato Maicero (Es) • Pato Piquidorado
Family: Anatidae • Ducks

The Yellow Billed Pintail is found in southern Brazil, Paraguay etc. It was the most common duck in the area of Mostardas when I visited in November.

It is a plain duck with yellow bill with small markings and has a white and green/purple speculum (wing “badge”). The only other duck in Brazil with a yellow bill is the smaller Speckled Teal, which has a yellow (not white) stripe in the upper part of its speculum.

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Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice, France • August, 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ruddy Duck
Latin: Oxyura jamaicensis
Other: Erismature rousse
Family: Anatidae • Ducks

The Ruddy Duck is not originally European but American. Having been introduced in Britain it is now colonising the continent and threatening the endangered White-headed Duck, with which it is hybridizing. Apparently the Ruddy males are "sexually aggressive".

However moves are afoot to "remove", or extirpate, the Ruddy Duck from the ecosystem, in order to save the White Headed Duck, which can be found in southern Spain and a few other small colonies in southern Europe.

In Britain the Ruddy Duck has been labelled a pest by the RSPB and the hunting ban has been lifted on it. This refugee was seen in Nice, presumably working his way down to Grenada to check out the White Headed señoritas!More photos...

Photos copyright: monacoeye • Nice, France • May June 09 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Hooded Merganser
Latin: Mergus cucullatus
Other:
Family: Anatidae • Mergansers • Ducks

Although native to North America, these Hooded Mergansers are from a park in Nice, presumably captive, though there are many escapes.More photos...

Photos copyright: AW • Geneva, Switzerland • June 09• Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Goosander
Latin: Mergus cucullatus
Other: Common Merganser • Gulaund • Harle Bièvre, Grand Harle • Gänsesäger (De)
Family: Anatidae • Mergansers • Ducks

The Goosander, or Common Merganser, is found in northern parts of the world - its reach does not extend down to the Côte d'Azur, however. This indiviual, probably female, was photographed in Geneva.More photos...

Photos copyright: AW • Cannes, France • March 09 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Red Breasted Merganser
Latin: Mergus serrator
Other: Gulaund • Harle huppé • Mittelsäger (De)
Family: Anatidae • Mergansers • Ducks

A distant shot of a Red Breasted Merganser in the sea off the coast near Cannes, in March. The Red Breasted Merganser is not common in our part of the Mediterranean, generally preferring colder Northern climes.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy

Bird name: Fulvous Whistling Duck
Latin: Dendrocygna bicolor
Other: Marreca-Caneleira • Marrecapeba • Marrecapéua • Xenxém
Family: Anatidae • Subfamily: Dendrocygninae • Whistling Ducks

Photo: monacoeye • June 2009 • Native from South America to California, India and sub-Saharan Africa.More photos...

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy

Bird name: Black Bellied Whistling Duck
Latin: Dendrocygna autumnalis
Other: Pijije • Pixixi • Pichichi • Chiriría • Sirirí - (ala blanca • aliblanco) • Pato Maízal
Family: Anatidae • Subfamily: Dendrocygninae • Whistling Ducks

Photo: monacoeye • June 2009 • Native to South America up to southern USA.
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Photos copyright: monacoeye • Danube Delta, Romania • May 2009 • Do not copy without permission

Bird name: Ferruginous Duck
Latin: Aythya nyroca
Other: Fuligule nyroca
Family: Anatidae
Tag: Ducks

The Ferruginous Duck seemed to be the most common duck in the Delta on my visit. The only other species I saw was the Mallard.More photos...

Bird name: Tufted Duck
Latin: Aythya fuligula
Other: Fuligule morillon
Family: Anatidae
Tags: Ducks

Photo: monacoeye • Camargue • Mar 2009

A male Tufted Duck. There were many at La Capelliere - the first I have seen this year.More photos...

Bird name: Muscovy Duck
Latin: Cairina moschata
Other: Canard Musqué • Canard Muet • Barbary Duck
Family: Anatidae

Photo: monacoeye • Brazil

Not the most beautiful bird in the world, the Muscovy Duck is bred for poultry and has escaped into the wild in many parts of the world. It comes in all sorts of strange variations of colours and sizes.

Placed in the Shelduck category here, for convenience sake, though taxonomy unclear. Wild from Mexico to South AmericaMore photos...

Bird name: White Faced Whistling Duck
Latin: Dendrocygna viduata
Other: Irerê (Brazil)
Family: Anatidae • Subfamily: Dendrocygninae • Whistling Ducks

Photo: monacoeye • BrazilMore photos...

Bird name: Wood Duck
Latin: Aix sponsa
Other: Canard Carolin
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photo: Tatiana HughesMore photos...

Bird name: Northern Shoveler
Latin: Anas clypeata
Other: Canard Souchet
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...

Bird name: Mallard
Latin: Anas platyrynchos
Other: Canard Colvert
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...

Bird name: Red Crested Pochard
Latin: Netta rufina
Other: Nette Rousse
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...

Bird name: Common Pochard
Latin: Aytha ferina
Other: Fuligule Milouin
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...

Bird name: Gadwall
Latin: Anas strepera
Other: Canard Chipeau
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...

Bird name: Common Teal
Latin: Anas crecca
Other: Sarcelle d’Hiver
Family: Anatidae - Ducks

Photos: monacoeye • Camargue • January 2009More photos...