What sorts of geese can you discover in Massachusetts?
Who doesn’t love geese? Head to nearly any water habitat, and you’re more likely to see at the least a couple of swimming round.
I believe you’ll be amazed at what number of duck species are present in Massachusetts!
For people who find themselves solely ever used to seeing the frequent Mallard, this checklist must be extremely eye-opening! The geese featured under are commonest and almost certainly to be noticed. In actuality, the entire checklist of geese that could be seen in Massachusetts is even bigger!
Right here is how the remainder of this text is organized: (Click on the hyperlink to leap to that part!)
Dabblers are these geese that feed by sticking their head underwater and leaving their tails pointing up as they graze on the varied greens and invertebrates within the shallows. Nevertheless, that isn’t the one means that they eat. As winter ends and the snows begin to soften, they are going to eat seeds and the leftover waste grain present in farm fields.
Diving geese fully submerge themselves underwater to seize aquatic vegetation from the underside or chase meals, equivalent to fish or invertebrates. They’ve tailored narrower, pointier, and general smaller wings, that are excellent for swimming underwater. Consequently, these geese usually lack the flexibility to easily take off from the floor just like the dabblers and it’s frequent to see them working alongside the floor to construct up sufficient pace to get airborne.
Dabbling Geese
#1. Mallard
How one can determine:
- Males have a vivid inexperienced head, skinny white collar, darkish reddish-brown chest, yellow invoice, and a black rump with a white-tipped tail.
- Females are mottled brown with orange and brown payments.
- Each sexes have purple-blue secondary feathers on their wing, which is most seen when they’re standing or flying.
My guess is that nearly everyone seems to be conversant in the Mallard. These geese are undoubtedly the commonest species in Massachusetts!
Mallard Vary Map
Mallards are extraordinarily comfy round individuals, which is why these adaptable geese are so widespread. They’re present in just about any wetland habitat, irrespective of the place it’s positioned. We even discover Mallards in our swimming pool each summer time and must chase them away, in order that they don’t make a large number on our deck! ????
Mallards readily settle for synthetic constructions constructed for them by people. When you’ve got a pleasant pond or a marsh, be happy to place up a do-it-yourself nesting space to get pleasure from some cute ducklings strolling round your property! Simply be sure you put up predator guards so predators can’t get to the eggs.
Once you consider a duck quacking, it’s nearly inevitably a feminine Mallard. If there’s a higher duck sound, we haven’t heard it! Curiously, males don’t quack like females however as an alternative make a raspy name.
#2. American Wigeon
How one can determine:
- Compact geese with spherical heads. Blue-gray payments which can be tipped in black.
- Males are largely brown however have a particular inexperienced band behind their eyes and a white crown.
- Females have brown our bodies general, with a grayer-colored head.
American Wigeons are quite a few, however they like quiet lakes and marshes away from individuals. Their weight-reduction plan consists of a better proportion of plant matter than different geese and can even go to farm fields to feed, just like geese. Their brief invoice supplies plenty of energy to assist pluck vegetation with ease!
American Wigeon Vary Map
Since they’ll scare simply when approached, among the best methods to see these geese in Massachusetts is to hear for them! Males give a 3-part nasal whistle (whew-whew-whew) at any time of the 12 months, which kind of seems like a kazoo (heard under)! Females don’t whistle, however they do produce a harsh grunt quack.
#3. Gadwall
How one can determine:
- Males have an intricate sample of grey, brown, and black feathers, which appear like white-fringed “scales.” Brown head and darkish gray or black invoice. The again is roofed with medium and darkish brown feathers. Males have a darkish invoice.
- Females are mottled shades of brown with a darkish orange-black invoice. Look just like feminine Mallards.
- Each sexes have a white patch (a lot smaller on females) on their wings, seen when flying.
Gadwalls are simple geese to miss in Massachusetts! In contrast to most different species, males don’t sport any patches of blue, inexperienced, or white plumage. Search for them in small ponds which have a lot of vegetation.
Gadwall Vary Map
Gadwalls have a humorous behavior of stealing meals from diving geese upon surfacing, with American Coots being their favourite sufferer! This conduct is seen extra usually in the summertime, the place animal matter could make as much as 50% of their weight-reduction plan, whereas it drops to round 5% in winter. Submerged aquatic vegetation is their main meals supply.
Should you hear somebody burping and also you’re close to water, then it might be a male Gadwall. Their brief, reedy calls are sometimes described as “burps.”
Females quack and sound just like Mallards, besides it’s only a bit extra excessive pitched.
#4. Northern Pintail
How one can determine:
- Slender geese with lengthy tails and necks and a pale black-gray invoice.
- Males have a cinnamon-brown head, grey our bodies, and a white throat and breast.
- Females have plain, tan heads and rufous-brown plumage on their our bodies.
Northern Pintails have a protracted neck that exaggerates their extraordinarily pointy tail (therefore the title) when in flight. Even when floating on water, its tail stands out farther from its physique than its head. Non-breeding males and all females have shorter however nonetheless outstanding pintails.
Northern Pintail Vary Map
The most effective place to search out these geese in Massachusetts is wetland habitat away from individuals. Wildlife refuges are excellent locations to start out. They have a tendency to stay to shallower areas close to the sides of lakes and ponds. Curiously, they’re additionally proficient at strolling on land, so that you’ll discover them cleansing farm fields of barley, wheat, rice, and corn leftovers.
Males have a singular name, which sounds a bit like a practice whistle. Females utter low-pitched quacking “kuk” notes.
Northern Pintails solely migrate at evening and are unbelievable flyers! Throughout migration, they attain speeds as much as 48 mph (77 kph), and the report for longest continuous flight is 1,800 miles (2,900 km)!
#5. Northern Shoveler
How one can determine:
- Males have reddish-brown flanks, inexperienced heads, a white chest, black backs, and yellow eyes.
- Females are brown, and typically you may see a bluish shoulder patch.
- Each sexes have distinctive payments, that are giant and extensive!
Should you solely look on the inexperienced head, informal observers in Massachusetts may by accident suppose these geese are Mallards. However one search for shut, and it’s best to discover the ENORMOUS spoon-shaped invoice, which is what Northern Shovelers are recognized for, and the way they acquired their title.
Northern Shoveler Vary Map
They use their giant invoice to shovel and sift by way of mud and sand to search out tasty tidbits like crustaceans, mollusks, aquatic bugs which can be buried. Curiously, their invoice has over 100 tiny projections on the sides known as lamellae that assist filter out the meals they need to eat.
Males make a guttural “took-took” sound throughout courtship, when alarmed, and in flight. Females make a nasally sounding quack.
An fascinating conduct noticed with Northern Shovelers is their potential to “group up” to search out meals. Flocks of them will typically swim in circles collectively to assist fire up meals!
#6. Blue-winged Teal
How one can determine:
- Males have a head that is bluish with a white band in entrance of the attention. Black invoice and black wings. Physique is brown with black spots.
- Females have brown our bodies. Search for a darkish eyeline and crown on their head.
Blue-winged Teals are present in shallow wetlands throughout Massachusetts. These geese get their title due to the attractive blue shoulder patch that’s solely seen whereas in flight! Simply as fairly is the inexperienced plumage under the blue on the wing.
Blue-winged Teal Vary Map
Consider it or not, these stunning waterfowl are the second most considerable duck in North America, behind solely (you guessed it) the Mallard. Blue-winged Teal are a preferred species for hunters, though the variety of geese that may be taken per 12 months is monitored carefully to make sure the inhabitants stays sturdy.
Males produce a excessive whistled “tsee-tsee.”
#7. Inexperienced-winged Teal
How one can determine:
- Males have chestnut-brown heads and a inexperienced ear patch. Stunning gray-barred our bodies with vertical white stripes on either side.
- Females have a darkish eye-line and are mottled brown all through.
- Each sexes have a inexperienced patch on their wing, which is seen in flight and more often than not when resting.
Inexperienced-winged Teals are the smallest dabbling geese you will see that in Massachusetts. They’re solely 12-15 inches (31-39 cm) in size and weigh between 5 and 18 ounces (140-500 g).
Inexperienced-winged Teal Vary Map
These birds usually journey and hang around with different species. Look carefully for the smallest duck in a combined flock, and there’s a good probability it’s a Inexperienced-winged Teal. Even females, which look just like feminine Mallards, ought to stand out as a result of they’re noticeably smaller!
Inexperienced-winged Teal populations have elevated in Massachusetts by way of the years, regardless that they’re the second most hunted duck within the nation. Fortunately, since they breed within the very northern elements of North America, their breeding vary hasn’t suffered the identical habitat loss that different species have encountered.
Males give a brief, clear, repeated whistle, which is a singular sound for a duck should you ask me! Females usually give a sequence of quacks at any time of the 12 months.
#8. Wooden Duck
How one can determine:
- Males have very intricate plumage. Search for the inexperienced crested head, purple eyes, and chestnut breast with white flecks.
- Females have brown our bodies with a grayish head, which can be barely crested. White teardrop eye patch and a blue patch on the wing.
Walt Disney used to say that “the world is a carousel of coloration,” and few waterfowl have taken this extra to coronary heart than the male Wooden Duck. In truth, it appears like an artist used each coloration to color a duck that has inexperienced, purple, orange, lime, yellow, buff, rose, brown, tan, black, white, grey, purple, and blue coloring.
Wooden Duck Vary Map
This is among the few duck species in Massachusetts you may even see in a tree! Wooden Geese use deserted tree cavities for nesting, however additionally they readily take to elevated nesting bins.
When hatchlings go away the nest for the primary time, they usually must make a large leap of religion (as much as 50 ft) to the bottom under! You must watch the video under to consider it. ????
Curiously, Wooden Geese are completely developed for his or her life spent in bushes. Their claws are highly effective, which permits them to perch and grasp onto branches!
The commonest sound heard from Wooden Geese is when they’re disturbed. I’ve usually by accident encounter them solely to listen to them flying away saying “ooeek-ooeek” loudly!
#9. American Black Duck
How one can determine:
- Each sexes have a darkish brown physique that contrasts towards their pale brown head.
- Males have a yellow invoice. Females have a uninteresting olive invoice.
- Whereas flying, search for an iridescent purple rectangle on their wings.
American Black Geese have a reputation that doesn’t describe them very effectively. You’ll suppose they’d appear like the Warner Brothers character Daffy Duck, however actually, they don’t have any black on them!
American Black Duck Vary Map
These geese are present in Massachusetts in shallow wetlands, the place they usually forage with Mallards. American Black Geese and feminine Mallards look extremely comparable, so be sure that to look carefully at giant flocks for them!
Males make a flutelike whistle when attempting to draw a mate. Females utter loud “quacks.”
#10. Eurasian Wigeon
- Eurasian wigeons are small and cute geese.
- Males have russet heads, bronze chests, and black and white our bodies.
- Females are golden brown, with darkish brown particulars on their feathers.
These geese are RARE guests to Massachusetts!
Because the title suggests, you’ll usually spot Eurasian Wigeons in Europe and northern Asia.
Eurasian Wigeon Vary Map
However typically, they get misplaced throughout their enormous migrations in spring and fall. It’s throughout winter when it’s attainable to identify Eurasian Wigeons! Search for them hidden amongst flocks of American Wigeons.
Over the winter, Eurasian Wigeons settle in a variety of habitats, together with elevated lakes, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, and sheltered seas.
In late winter, males begin competing to courtroom females. Males have a really distinctive name, which they use to whistle loudly on the feminine. In addition they raise the ideas of their wings to draw consideration. See and listen to them in motion within the video under!
#11. Muscovy Duck
- Domesticated geese which can be heavy-set. Males may be double the dimensions of females.
- Usually white and black, with darkish inexperienced plumage across the wing space.
- Distinguished purple wattling is often current across the invoice and face.
Wild Muscovy Geese are native to the American continent. Nevertheless, wild Muscovy Geese are unlikely to be noticed in Massachusetts. Should you see certainly one of these geese, it’s possible a domesticated particular person who escaped!
This species was one of many first duck species to be domesticated. They had been stored by individuals in South America and later exported to the European continent. The unique Muscovy Geese have given rise to a variety of domesticated breeds by way of selective breeding.
Muscovy Duck Species Vary Map
Domesticated Muscovy Geese are usually giant and heavy birds. Crimson wattling across the face, and outstanding knobs of wattling above the beak, are very noticeable in domesticated birds. Native Muscovy Geese are far more slender and athletic of their construct than domesticated people.
You’ll almost certainly see Muscovy Geese in Massachusetts on farms and in parks. Feral populations additionally exist in pockets throughout North America. Escaped home Muscovy Geese usually breed with different species, producing sterile offspring.
Diving/Sea Geese
#12. Bufflehead
How one can determine:
- Small geese with giant heads.
- Males have white chests and flanks and a big white patch on their heads. Darkish again. Iridescent purple-green plumage on their face.
- Females are largely brownish with a darker head. Search for the distinctive white cheek patch.
It’s laborious to misidentify these hanging geese when seen in Massachusetts. They spend as much as half their time foraging underwater, searching for aquatic invertebrates and crustaceans, which they eat whereas nonetheless submerged. After they dive, be affected person and maintain scanning across the space for these small birds to resurface.
Bufflehead Vary Map
Buffleheads are choosy nesters, and they’re going to ONLY lay eggs inside a cavity. They nearly solely use holes that had been excavated by Northern Sparkles, and once in a while, Pileated Woodpeckers. They’re dropping nest websites because of logging, however they do take readily to correctly put in nest bins.
Total, Buffleheads are extra silent than different geese. In late winter to early spring, it’s attainable to listen to the males make a squeaky whistle.
#13. Canvasback
How one can determine:
- A comparatively giant diving duck with a black breast, black tail, and a pale grey physique. Their heads are wedge-shaped and slope right down to their lengthy, darkish invoice.
- Males have red-brown heads and purple eyes.
- Females are duller general, with a brown head and black eyes.
Canvasbacks are giant diving geese that not often ever go to dry land. In truth, they even sleep whereas floating and construct their nests in lots of floating vegetation!
Canvasback Vary Map
These geese are omnivores that eat the whole lot from bugs and mussels to plant tubers and seeds. They will dive as much as 7 ft deep, searching for aquatic vegetation, which they rip off with their sturdy payments.
These largely silent geese have had their populations fluctuate during the last 100 years. Lack of large quantities of wetland habitat to growth precipitated a decline in numbers, together with the lack of their main meals supply (wild celery) disappearing in lots of locations. However general, their inhabitants has remained regular for the reason that Nineteen Eighties.
#14. Ruddy Duck
How one can determine:
- Breeding males are blue-billed, white-cheeked, with a black cap and again of the neck, main right down to its chestnut-colored physique. Stiff black tail is usually erect.
- Females are tawny delicate brown, besides the darker cap. Females (and nonbreeding males) have a black, scoop-like invoice.
Ruddy Geese are some of the fascinating geese present in Massachusetts!
First, the males which can be of their breeding plumage are unmistakable and appear like no different duck. It’s laborious to overlook their vivid blue payments and intensely thick necks.
Ruddy Duck Vary Map
Males even have a singular means of attracting females. They may beat their invoice towards their neck so laborious that it forces air by way of the feathers, which creates a swirl of bubbles within the water, which I assume the ladies discover engaging? To complete off this show, they emit a belch-like sound!
Ruddy Geese are significantly better swimmers than flyers. After they really feel threatened by a predator, they a lot desire to dive and swim away than taking to the air.
#15. Redhead
How one can determine:
- Each sexes have a steep brow main right down to their black-tipped grey invoice.
- Males have a particular cinnamon-red head with yellow eyes. Grey physique and black chest.
- Females are brownish general with a paler face. Has darkish eyes.
In Massachusetts, Redheads are among the many extra sociable geese you will see that, particularly in winter. It’s frequent to see them gathered collectively in monumental flocks, typically hundreds sturdy, in comparatively giant lakes. Due to their gregarious nature, they’re simply drawn to decoys, making them a preferred sport species for hunters.
Redhead Vary Map
Curiously, feminine Redheads apply a little bit of brood parasitism, which suggests they are going to lay a few of their eggs within the nests of different duck species and allow them to increase these hatchlings! Their favourite species to focus on embrace Mallard, Canvasback, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, and American Wigeon. What’s fascinating is that additionally they construct their very own nests and lift these hatchlings themselves. Discuss taking part in the percentages!
Males make a cat-like “whee-uogh” or “keyair” name when attempting to courtroom a feminine. When threatening one other Redhead, the males additionally emit a low, trilling “rrrrr.”
#16. Ring-necked Duck
How one can determine:
- Medium-sized duck with a peaked head. Each sexes have a grey invoice with a white band and a black tip.
- Males have a shiny black head, chest, and again with gray sides. Yellow eyes.
- Females are brownish birds with a gray face and throat. Search for a little bit of white round and behind their darkish eyes.
In reality, the Ring-necked Duck has a horrible title for identification functions. You’ll suppose there can be an apparent ring round their neck, however you’ll be mistaken! The so-called ring on their black necks is such a pale brown that it’s almost unimaginable to identify from any distance.
Ring-necked Duck Vary Map
In contrast to most different diving geese, these birds are inclined to inhabit and go to SHALLOW ponds and wetlands in Massachusetts. Throughout the breeding season, you’ll often solely discover two of them collectively, however in winter, they collect in flocks that quantity into the hundreds of birds!
They’re some of the possible geese to eat leftover shotgun pellets, making them prone to steer poisoning. Lead shot was banned in 1991, which has helped their inhabitants numbers, however some outdated ammo nonetheless stays in wetlands throughout Massachusetts.
#17. Frequent Goldeneye
How one can determine:
- Males have a darkish inexperienced head, a vivid yellow eye, and a particular white cheek patch. The physique is usually white with a black again and rump.
- Females have a brown head, a brief darkish invoice with a yellow tip on the finish, and a pale yellow eye. Search for their white neck collar and grayish our bodies.
Frequent Goldeneyes are professional diving geese in Massachusetts. These birds can keep underwater for as much as a minute in size as they seek for their prey, which incorporates aquatic invertebrates, fish, and fish eggs, together with seeds and tubers from submerged vegetation.
Frequent Goldeneye Vary Map
Fortunately, their inhabitants has remained sturdy and secure. Considered one of their largest threats is that they’re cavity nesters and depend upon forestry practices that don’t reduce down lifeless bushes. Many devoted individuals have put up subsequent bins of their breeding vary to assist present extra enough nesting spots.
Hunters generally seek advice from the Frequent Goldeneye because the “whistler” due to the distinctive whistling noises their wings make when flying. Each women and men are usually silent geese besides throughout courtship.
#18. Hooded Merganser
How one can determine:
- Small duck with a protracted, slender invoice.
- Breeding males have an unmistakable giant black crest that has a big white patch on either side. Yellow eyes.
- Females have darkish eyes and are brown general with a barely lighter coloured crest, which just about appears like a mohawk. Nonbreeding males look just like females, besides they’ve yellow eyes.
Look-wise, Hooded Merganser’s are certainly one of my favourite birds. Seeing a breeding male with its giant black and white crest erected is a fantastic sight. Search for these geese in shallow ponds and rivers in summer time, whereas in winter, they transfer to unfrozen lakes or bays.
Hooded Merganser Vary Map
Their lengthy, skinny invoice is serrated, which helps them catch small fish, crayfish, and aquatic bugs. Their meals is sort of all the time swallowed entire, no matter measurement. They hunt underwater by sight and have imaginative and prescient diversifications that enable them to see fairly clearly when submerged.
Females have an fascinating conduct the place they might lay a few of their eggs within the nests of different Hooded Mergansers. Whereas every hen can lay as much as a dozen eggs, nests have been discovered with greater than 40 eggs in them, making one duck work quite a bit more durable than a number of others.
#19. Crimson-breasted Merganser
How one can determine:
- Slim geese with lengthy our bodies and necks and a protracted, skinny invoice.
- Breeding males have a darkish inexperienced head with a spiky-looking crest. Cinnamon-colored chest and purple eyes.
- Females and non-breeding males are greyish brown general.
Crimson-breasted Mergansers breed in boreal forests throughout a lot of North America, the place they are often discovered on many inland lakes. Throughout winter, these sea geese migrate south and spend most of their time simply off the coast, though it’s attainable to search out them in nearly any giant, unfrozen physique of water.
Crimson-breasted Merganser Vary Map
Fish are their main meals supply, and they should eat roughly 15-20 per day to provide their power calls for. To catch this quantity of fish, it’s estimated they should make about 250 dives per day! Typically they are going to assist one another out, and people will work collectively to herd minnows to shallower water, which makes the fish simpler to catch.
Do you know that birds that primarily eat fish usually style horrible? Due to this truth, Crimson-breasted Mergansers, and the opposite merganser species present in Massachusetts, should not often hunted. It’s additionally the explanation you don’t discover anybody attempting to eat a penguin!
#20. Frequent Merganser
How one can determine:
- A pretty big duck that has a protracted, slender orange invoice with a black tip and darkish eyes.
- Breeding males have a largely white physique, a black again, and a mallard-like inexperienced head.
- Females and non-breeding males sport a cinnamon-colored head and a grayish-white physique.
Attributable to their skinny invoice, Frequent Mergansers stand out pretty simply from most different geese in Massachusetts. Their favourite meals is fish, which they catch with the assistance of their serrated invoice, however additionally they take pleasure in aquatic invertebrates equivalent to crustaceans, mollusks, bugs, and worms.
Frequent Merganser Vary Map
Frequent Mergansers are so good at fishing that many different geese attempt to steal from them once they floor. In truth, it’s frequent to see flocks of seagulls following them, hoping to grab a simple meal. Even Bald Eagles have been recognized to rob them of their hard-earned fish!
Naturally, these geese nest in tree cavities that woodpeckers have carved out. Curiously, new child ducklings are solely a few day outdated once they leap from the doorway to the bottom, at which level the mom will cause them to water, they usually catch all their very own meals instantly.
#21. Lesser Scaup
How one can determine:
- Males have yellow eyes, a shiny black head, and a chest and rump that contrasts with the speckled grey again and white sides.
- Females are darkish brown general with an excellent darker head. Search for a vivid white patch across the base of the invoice.
Lesser Scaups are probably the most considerable diving duck in North America. With that being mentioned, it might not be simple to see one in Massachusetts! They’re largely present in giant lakes, reservoirs, and estuaries, the place they’ll collect by the hundreds. In winter, they collect carefully by the hundreds, and from afar, it appears like a big mass of floating vegetation.
Lesser Scaup Vary Map
Lesser Scaups and Better Scaups look extremely comparable. The easiest way to inform them aside is to have a look at their head. Lesser Scaups have a extra tall peaked head, the place Greaters have a extra rounded head.
These geese are usually silent, and it’s uncommon to listen to them. Females are a bit extra vocal than males and make quite a lot of guttural scolding barks and grunts.
#22. Better Scaup
How one can determine:
- Males have yellow eyes, a inexperienced head, a darkish chest, and a rump that contrasts with the speckled grey again and white sides.
- Females have a chocolatey-brown head and heat brown physique. Search for a vivid white patch across the base of the invoice.
- Each sexes have giant blue-grey payments with a black tip.
Should you get an opportunity to see a Better Scaup in Massachusetts, please know that you’re watching a duck that spends its summers breeding extraordinarily far north within the arctic. Some people even go throughout the north pole into Europe!
Better Scaup Vary Map
These birds are nearly all the time seen in giant our bodies of water, the place they congregate in giant numbers with different Better Scaups. They give the impression of being virtually equivalent to Lesser Scaups, and it’ll take some apply to inform the distinction between the 2 species.
Better Scaups are glorious diving geese, they usually recurrently go down 20+ ft to search out aquatic vegetation or invertebrates to eat. These geese are largely silent, besides throughout breeding season, the place you might hear males give a delicate, nasally whistle.
#23. Harlequin Duck
How one can determine:
- Small duck with a brief darkish grey invoice.
- Breeding males have a darkish blue physique with rust-brown patches on their sides. Daring white spots on their neck and physique and a white facial crescent.
- Females have brown our bodies which can be paler under. White spots behind the invoice and eyes.
Harlequin Geese may be probably the most breathtaking duck you will see that in Massachusetts. First, the coloration on breeding males is spectacular, and it appears like they had been painted with stunning blues, chestnuts, and whites.
Harlequin Duck Vary Map
However probably the most fascinating factor about this species is the intense locations the place they select to stay. They breed and lift their younger primarily alongside fast-moving rivers. In winter, they transfer to rocky ocean shores that obtain a lot of wind and enormous waves.
X-rays of Harlequin Geese present the punishment their our bodies take as they get tossed round in these excessive areas. Virtually each particular person has a number of healed fractures that they stay with!
In contrast to many different sea geese, they’re fairly vocal. However the humorous factor is that they make a really un-duck-like noise, which sounds extra like a squeaking mouse than your typical quack. This uncommon noise has led to their nickname, “Sea Mouse.”
#24. Lengthy-tailed Duck
- Each women and men look very completely different in summer time vs winter.
- Males have lengthy tails, however females all the time have brief tails.
Lengthy-tailed geese reside in very chilly habitats, dwelling and breeding across the rim of the Arctic Circle. Because of this the perfect time to see these geese in Massachusetts is throughout wintertime once they migrate south.
Lengthy-tailed Geese are seafaring birds with sturdy diving capabilities. They will usually be noticed in coastal waters or different saltwater environments, together with estuaries and brackish waters. They will sometimes be seen in giant, deep, inland freshwater lakes.
Lengthy-Tailed Duck Vary Map
Lengthy-tailed Geese propel themselves underwater utilizing their wings, which is their secret to diving as deep as 200 ft (60 meters)! They dive to hunt for small fish, mollusks, and crustaceans to eat.
#25. Surf Scoter
- Males are black throughout however with white eyes and white patches on the top!
- Males’ payments are strikingly coloured with white, yellow, and purple.
- Females are brown however equally formed to the males.
Surf Scoters are giant seafaring birds that go north in spring to spend their summer time breeding in Alaska and northern Canada. Throughout this time, Surf Scoters usually tend to be discovered on freshwater lakes than by the coast.
{Couples} are fashioned alongside the migration route, and the males defend a fringe round a feminine on arrival. As soon as the ducklings hatch, they’re usually by accident swapped between moms as they swim on the crowded lake!
Surf Scoter Vary Map
After finishing their southward migration, Surf Scoters spend winter in shallow coastal waters or estuaries. They dive to hunt for invertebrates equivalent to mussels. These geese are discovered alongside the coastlines of Massachusetts.
#26. Black Scoter
- The male has solely black plumage with no white patches.
- The male’s invoice is black on the bottom however vibrantly orange and bulbous above.
- The feminine is a delicate brown coloration however with giant white cheek patches.
When Black Scoter males are courting a feminine, they compete towards many others for the feminine’s consideration. The males make a sing-song, whistling name and attempt to appeal to consideration with head-shaking shows that showcase their vivid invoice.
They could additionally make brief flights or raise their our bodies by flapping their wings. They finish this present of measurement and energy by dramatically dipping their heads. Take a look at the video under to see them in motion!
In the summertime months, Black Scoters may be present in northern Canada and Alaska. It’s a social, seafaring duck that’s glorious at looking mussels.
As soon as their winter plumage comes by way of, Black Scoters migrate southward, and the flocks unfold far and extensive throughout North America! They like shallow seawater habitats with rocky or sandy bottoms, the place they’ll catch a lot of crustaceans and mollusks to eat.
Black Scoter Vary Map
#27. White-winged Scoter
- White-winged Scoters are giant geese. They’re the most important of the scoter species.
- The male is black with white secondary flight feathers and eye patches.
- The feminine is darkish brown with white secondary flight feathers and cheek patches.
White-winged scoters spend their summers in northern Alaska and Canada, dwelling round freshwater lakes and consuming bugs. They stay in breeding pairs from mid-Could however could nest as shut as 10 ft (3 m) to different pairs. White-wing Scoters can usually be noticed gathered with nesting gulls right now.
White-winged Scoter Vary Map
When autumn comes round, White-wing Scoters journey south to Massachusetts to attend out the winter in hotter climates.
White-winged Scoters are seafaring birds which can be glorious at diving for shellfish. They will simply dive as deep as 65 ft (20 m). Their favourite meals embrace rock clams and razor clams.
#28. Frequent Eider
- Eiders are the most important seafaring geese within the Northern Hemisphere.
- Males have inexperienced necks, black caps and sides, and white elsewhere.
- Females are a heat golden brown throughout, finely barred with darkish brown.
Frequent Eiders are famend for his or her delicate and fluffy down feathers. Females pluck down from their chests and use it to line their nests.
These feathers may be harvested sustainably and ethically. For hundreds of years individuals have collected them from Frequent Eider nests after the ducklings have fledged. The down feathers had been used to stuff pillows and duvets.
Frequent Eiders nest in shallow depressions discovered on rocky surfaces or scratched into the bottom. Throughout the breeding season, they collect in enormous colonies beside the ocean. Their numbers assist defend their nests, that are pretty uncovered.
Frequent Eider Vary Map
These giant geese are good divers and largely eat mussels. However apparently, they don’t smash the mussels open. As a substitute, they swallow them entire! The shells are crushed of their gizzards.
Frequent Eiders are inclined to migrate south to Massachusetts for winter, however their migrations should not excessive. The summer time breeding vary and the winter vary overlap in lots of areas. The distances they fly, and even the tendency emigrate in any respect, varies tremendously.
#29. King Eider
- Male King Eiders are extremely stunning and attention-grabbing.
- Males have black and white our bodies, blue heads, peach chests, and orange faces.
- Females are brown, with gentle borders to darkish feathers that type diamond shapes.
King Eiders have a clear-set migration sample. In spring, they fly north in monumental flocks and settle at freshwater lakes and ponds within the Arctic for the breeding season.
As winter approaches, King Eiders fly south, usually staying under the sting of the ocean ice. These giant geese could also be noticed on the coasts of Massachusetts in winter.
King Eider Vary Map
King Eiders typically spend lengthy intervals at sea. Younger birds not sufficiently old to breed could even keep at sea year-round! They’re glorious swimmers and divers. They will dive as deep as 180 ft (54 meters) to seize meals equivalent to crabs, sea urchins, and anemones from the ocean ground.
The courtship shows from male King Eiders embrace dramatic head actions and wing flapping. Females reciprocate by dipping their heads right down to the water. Take a look at the video to see and listen to them in motion!
Assist! I noticed a duck that doesn’t match any on this checklist!
Listed here are some attainable explanations should you noticed a duck in Massachusetts that doesn’t appear to match any of the species above.
It was a home duck or hybrid.
- There are an unbelievable quantity of geese which can be thought of farm or home geese. One widespread instance is the Pekin Duck, which has fully white plumage. Sadly, a lot of them escape and are launched into wild populations. These people additionally generally breed with different native species, particularly Mallards, which create hybrids which can be unimaginable to determine.
You noticed a uncommon or unintended species.
- The geese above are the commonest species you might discover in Massachusetts, but it surely isn’t all-inclusive. Due to the migratory nature of geese, they’ll flip up in all types of distinctive and new areas!
It was an escapee from somebody’s private zoo.
- Many individuals have non-public collections of unique animals from around the globe. Geese with fancy plumage are sometimes widespread additions till they escape and find yourself at your native pond or marsh.
Do you want further assist figuring out geese you could have seen?
If that’s the case, certainly one of these area guides ought to find a way that will help you!
Which of those geese have you ever seen earlier than in Massachusetts?
Depart a remark under!
To study extra about different water birds close to you, try these guides!
The vary maps above had been generously shared with permission from The Birds of The World, printed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I take advantage of their web site OFTEN to study new details about birds!