Identification of birds in the field, and particularly on the wing, as
ducks and geese are usually seen over decoys, is easier than appears at
first try. The trick is to note, in addition to shape and approximate
size, the general arrangement of light and dark areas in the plumage,
for nearly every species has its own distinctive pattern. With practice,
the eye can be trained to pick out this pattern at a glance, and within
a short time recognition becomes automatic. The illustrations which
follow, one for each important species of Central Flyway waterfowl, make
use of this practice of “pattern recognition” in the two or more flying
birds at the top of the page. Actually in many cases recognition by
flight pattern and flight characteristics will soon become evident.
In each drawing of ducks the flying female leads, with the drake
following, for this is the usual order in a mated pair during winter,
and spring. On the lower part of each page are shown enlarged heads,
adult male on the left, female on the right, with an immature head added
when the difference is substantial, or with certain details which
further aid identification when the bird is in hand. All ducks, both
flying pairs and heads, are drawn in direct proportion to each other,
but geese, because of their larger size, are reduced one third from the
duck proportion.
Drawings of geese show only a single enlarged head on each plate because
male and female geese are alike in color pattern. Finally, some birds
which are not “waterfowl” in the strict sense of the word, but are
nevertheless often seen, are shown in the last few illustrations. Some
of them (loon, grebe, and cormorant), although protected at all times,
are included because they are often mistakenly shot for waterfowl.
Others (rails, coot, and snipes) are included because they occupy
wet-land habitat along with ducks.