By South Carolina is home to a diverse array of duck species, inhabiting its wetlands, coastal marshes, and inland lakes. Among the prominent types of ducks found in South Carolina are the Mallard, Wood Duck, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, and Mottled Duck.
Additionally, the state serves as a vital stopover for migratory duck species during their annual migrations. Visitors to South Carolina’s waterways may also spot other duck species such as the Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, and Ring-necked Duck, especially during the winter months.
Birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy observing these ducks in their natural habitats, whether exploring the coastal estuaries, freshwater ponds, or inland swamps that characterise South Carolina’s diverse landscape.
17 Types of Ducks in South Carolina
Mallard
The Mallard, scientifically known as Anas platyrhynchos, is one of the most recognizable and widespread duck species globally. It’s commonly found in various habitats across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Mallards are known for their vibrant plumage, with males displaying iridescent green heads, white neck rings, and chestnut-brown chests. Females have mottled brown plumage for camouflage. Mallards are highly adaptable and can thrive in diverse environments, including urban parks, wetlands, lakes, and rivers.
They are omnivorous, feeding on a diet that includes aquatic plants, insects, and small fish. Mallards are also notable for their seasonal migrations, with many populations undertaking long-distance journeys between breeding and wintering grounds.
Blue-winged Teal
The Blue-winged Teal, scientifically known as Anas discors, is a small dabbling duck found throughout North and Central America. Easily identified by its striking plumage, the male Blue-winged Teal boasts a distinctive blue-grey head with a white crescent behind the bill, a cinnamon-coloured body with black speckles, and a bright blue wing patch.
Females have more subdued brown plumage with speckles. These ducks prefer shallow freshwater habitats such as marshes, ponds, and flooded fields for breeding.
They are highly migratory, with populations breeding in northern regions of North America and wintering in southern areas and Central America. Blue-winged Teals are primarily herbivorous, feeding on seeds, aquatic plants, and small invertebrates.
Canvasback
The Canvasback, scientifically named Aythya valisineria, is a large diving duck native to North America. Known for its distinctive sloping profile and striking redhead, the male Canvasback is easily recognizable. Its name comes from the resemblance of its back to a canvas sail.
Females have a more subdued appearance with brownish-grey plumage. These ducks prefer large bodies of open water, such as lakes, marshes, and coastal estuaries. They are often found in freshwater during breeding season and in coastal areas during migration and wintering.
Canvasbacks are strong divers, feeding primarily on aquatic plants, roots, and seeds. They are also known to consume small crustaceans and aquatic invertebrates.
Redhead
The Redhead duck, scientifically known as Aythya americana, is a medium-sized diving duck found in North America. It’s named for the bright reddish head of the male, contrasting with a grey body and black breast. Females and juveniles have a more muted appearance with brownish-grey plumage.
Redheads inhabit freshwater habitats such as marshes, ponds, and lakes, preferring areas with abundant vegetation for nesting and feeding. They primarily feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates by diving underwater.
During the breeding season, they migrate to northern prairie pothole regions, while in winter, they move to coastal marshes and estuaries. Redhead populations have faced declines due to habitat loss, water pollution, and hunting pressures.
Ring-necked Duck
The Ring-necked Duck, scientifically known as Aythya collaris, is a medium-sized diving duck commonly found in North America. Despite its name, it doesn’t have a visible ring on its neck.
Instead, it features a subtle chestnut-coloured ring around its grey bill. Male Ring-necked Ducks have a striking black back, white sides, and a purple gloss on their heads, while females have a brownish-grey appearance with a lighter face and distinct white eye rings.
These ducks prefer freshwater habitats like marshes, ponds, and lakes with dense vegetation for nesting and feeding. Their diet consists mainly of aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates, which they obtain by diving underwater.
White-winged Scoter
The White-winged Scoter, also known as Melanitta fusca, is a large sea duck found primarily in North America. As its name suggests, it features distinctive white patches on its wings, which are particularly noticeable during flight.
Male White-winged Scoters have glossy black plumage with white patches on their wings and a bright yellow knob at the base of their bill. Females are predominantly brown with paler faces and subtle white wing patches. These ducks inhabit coastal waters during the winter, where they feed on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish.
During the breeding season, they migrate to freshwater lakes and ponds in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. White-winged Scoters are known for their driving abilities, often submerging to significant depths to forage for food.
Greater Scaup
The Greater Scaup, scientifically known as Aythya marila, is a species of diving duck found in North America and Eurasia. These medium-sized ducks have striking black and white plumage, with males displaying glossy black heads, white sides, and grey bodies, while females are more subdued with brown plumage.
They are known for their distinctive blue bills with a black tip. Greater Scaups are commonly found in coastal waters during the winter months, where they feed on aquatic plants, mollusks, and small crustaceans.
During the breeding season, they migrate to boreal forest regions in northern Canada, Alaska, and Eurasia, where they nest near freshwater lakes and ponds. Conservation efforts for Greater Scaups focus on protecting their breeding and wintering habitats, mitigating threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance, and promoting sustainable hunting practices to maintain healthy populations.
Common Goldeneye
The Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) is a medium-sized diving duck found across North America and Eurasia. These striking birds are named for their bright yellow eyes, which contrast sharply with their dark heads and white bodies. Male Common Goldeneyes have glossy green heads with a white crescent-shaped patch below their eyes, while females have brown heads and bodies.
During the breeding season, they inhabit boreal forests and nest in tree cavities near freshwater lakes and rivers. In winter, they migrate to coastal areas and large lakes, where they feed on aquatic invertebrates and small fish by diving underwater.
Common Goldeneyes are known for their rapid wing beats and distinctive whistling calls during flight. Conservation efforts for these ducks include protecting their breeding and wintering habitats, minimising disturbance, and reducing the impacts of pollution and habitat degradation.
Hooded Merganser
The Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is a small species of duck native to North America. Known for its distinctive fan-shaped crest, which can be raised or lowered, these ducks have striking black and white plumage with chestnut-coloured sides.
Hooded Mergansers primarily inhabit wooded ponds, swamps, and marshes, where they feed on fish, insects, and crustaceans. During the breeding season, males perform elaborate courtship displays, including raising their crests and displaying their black-and-white markings to attract females.
After mating, females build nests in tree cavities or nest boxes close to water. Once hatched, ducklings leave the nest within 24 hours and are cared for by the female. Hooded Mergansers are migratory birds, with populations breeding in northern regions and wintering in more southern areas.
Common Merganser
The Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) is a large species of duck found across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. Also known as the Goosander in Europe, these birds inhabit freshwater lakes, rivers, and coastal areas during the breeding season, where they are often seen diving for fish. They have long, slender bodies, serrated bills, and distinctive greenish heads with red bills in males and reddish-brown heads in females.
Common Mergansers are highly skilled swimmers and divers, using their powerful webbed feet to propel themselves underwater. During the breeding season, females lay eggs in tree cavities or nest boxes close to water, where they incubate them for around a month. Once hatched, ducklings are led to water by the female and feed on small fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Harlequin Duck
The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a strikingly colourful sea duck found in North America and parts of Europe and Asia. Known for its vibrant plumage and distinctive markings, the male Harlequin Duck has bold blue and chestnut patterns on its body, while the female has more subdued brown tones. These ducks prefer fast-flowing rivers and rocky coastlines during the breeding season, where they nest in crevices or burrows near the water.
Harlequin Ducks are skilled divers and feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, and small fish. They are known for their agile swimming and diving abilities, navigating turbulent waters with ease. During the winter months, some populations migrate to coastal areas for milder climates, while others remain in their breeding range year-round.
Ruddy Duck
The Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a small diving duck native to North and South America. It is recognized for its distinctive appearance, with a compact body, a short tail held upright, and a blue bill.
During the breeding season, male Ruddy Ducks display striking plumage, including a bright blue bill, a chestnut body, and white cheeks. Females and non-breeding males have more subdued brown plumage. Ruddy Ducks inhabit freshwater marshes, ponds, and lakes, where they dive for aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates.
They are proficient swimmers and use their strong legs to propel themselves underwater. In the winter, some populations migrate to warmer regions, while others remain in their breeding range year-round.
Northern Shoveler
The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) is a distinctive duck species known for its large, shovel-shaped bill, which it uses to filter food from the water. These ducks have a colourful appearance, with males displaying iridescent green heads, white chests, and chestnut sides, while females have mottled brown plumage.
They are found in various wetland habitats, including marshes, lakes, and ponds, across North America, Europe, and Asia. Northern Shovelers primarily feed on aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and vegetation, which they filter through their specialised bills.
During the breeding season, males perform elaborate courtship displays to attract females. Conservation efforts for Northern Shovelers focus on habitat preservation and management, as well as monitoring of populations to ensure their well-being.
Gadwall
The Gadwall (Anas strepera) is a medium-sized dabbling duck known for its mottled brown plumage and distinctive white speculum bordered by black. Both males and females have similar appearance, with males featuring a greyish-brown body and females having a more muted brown coloration.
Gadwalls inhabit a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes, ponds, and lakes, where they feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and small invertebrates by dabbling at the water’s surface.
During the breeding season, they build nests concealed in dense vegetation near water bodies. While Gadwalls are widespread across North America, Europe, and Asia, they face threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and hunting.
Long-tailed Duck
The Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) is a medium-sized sea duck known for its long, slender tail feathers, which are more pronounced in males during the breeding season.
Both males and females have striking plumage patterns, with males featuring bold black and white markings and females exhibiting more subdued brown and grey colours.
Long-tailed Ducks breed in the Arctic tundra during the summer months and migrate to coastal waters during the winter, where they feed primarily on mollusks, crustaceans, and small fish. They are strong divers, using their wings to propel themselves underwater in search of prey.
Long-tailed Ducks are well adapted to cold environments, with thick plumage providing insulation against freezing temperatures. However, they face threats such as habitat degradation, oil pollution, and climate change, which can impact their breeding grounds and wintering habitats.
Black Scoter
The Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) is a large sea duck commonly found in coastal waters of North America. Adults have predominantly black plumage, with males featuring a distinctive yellow knob at the base of their bill.
Female Black Scoters have a browner appearance with subtle markings. These ducks breed in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska during the summer, nesting in areas near freshwater lakes and ponds. In the winter, they migrate to more southerly coastal regions, where they feed primarily on mollusks, crustaceans, and aquatic plants.
Black Scoters are strong divers, using their powerful feet to propel themselves underwater in search of prey. Like many sea ducks, they face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, which can impact both their breeding and wintering habitats.
Summary
In summary, the various species of ducks discussed in this document represent a diverse array of waterfowl found across North America. From the familiar Mallard to the less common Harlequin Duck, each species has unique characteristics and behaviours. Whether they’re diving for food in coastal waters or nesting in freshwater habitats, ducks play important ecological roles and contribute to the biodiversity of their ecosystems.
Understanding their migration patterns, breeding habits, and conservation needs is crucial for ensuring their continued survival. Conservation efforts, including habitat preservation, pollution reduction, and hunting regulations, are essential for safeguarding duck populations for future generations to enjoy.