Continuing the archive — slow essays and observations from marshes, mangroves, and pondsides around the world.
№ 349 The American black duck (Anas rubripes) is a large dabbling duck native to North America that stands out in the duck family for its distinctive size and coloration. The male and female of this...
The American wigeon is a medium-sized duck native to North America. It is also known as the baldplate due to the white crown or white stripe of the male duck that resembles a bald man's head. As a...
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№ 347 The Baikal teal (Anas formosa or Sibirionetta formosa) is a small duck found in eastern Russia, China, and Mongolia lakes and rivers. It is named after Lake Baikal, one of the world's largest...
The Barrow's Goldeneye is a medium-sized sea duck resident in northern North America and Iceland. It belongs to the genus Bucephala, derived from an ancient Greek word meaning "ox's head," which...
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№ 345 Black-bellied whistling ducks are energetic, medium-sized birds found in the southern parts of the United States and various locations in Central and South America. Black-bellied whistling ducks are...
The black scoter is a medium-sized sea duck. It is also known as the American scoter. It forms the subgenus Oidemia with the common scoter (Melanitta nigra), a similar species. Black scoters can be...
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№ 343 The blue-winged teal is a member of the Anatidae family, including other ducks, geese and swans. It is one of the smallest dabbling ducks that breed and occur in North America. Carl Linnaeus first...
The bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) is a small diving duck native to North America. With its namesake puffy head, it stands out among other waterfowl that inhabit the continent's rivers and lakes....
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№ 341 The canvasback is the largest diving duck in North America. The genus Aythya is derived from the Greek word "aithuia", an identified waterbird mentioned by Aristotle. The species name "valisineria"...
Cinnamon teal (formerly Anas cyanoptera) is a dabbling duck found in the western regions of the Americas. It is named after the cinnamon-red color of its head and body. It feeds on aquatic plants and...
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№ 339 The common eider is a sea duck, also known as the St. Cuthbert's duck or Cuddy's duck. It is the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere. It has a wide population distribution, with breeding ranges...
The common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), also known as the American goldeneye, is a medium-sized diving duck native to North America, northern Europe and East Asia. The common goldeneye is a...
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