There are many types of ducks found in Scotland. These can include Common scoter where the male is totally black and the female a bit lighter. They live near the coast. Eider are fast flying and is a true sea duck, always living and feeding along the coastline. Gadwall is a very grey-coloured dabbling duck which is smaller than a mallard and with a black rear end. Goldeneye is a medium sized diving duck Garganey is a very rare duck in Scotland. Goosander are freshwater diving ducks and a member of the sawbill family. Long-tailed duck have small round heads and steep foreheads. In winter, the male is mainly white with some brownish-black markings. Mallard is a large duck with a long body and broad bill. Mandarin has distinctive long orange feathers on the side of the face. Pintail are bigger than a mallard duck with a long neck and small head. The pochard is a stocky diving duck and the Red-breasted merganser is a member of the sawbill family. Ruddy ducks are small freshwater diving ducks with broad, short wings and narrow, stiff tails. Scaup are diving ducks similar to tufted ducks. The shelduck is a mainly white duck with a prominent red bill and a black-green head. Shovelers are surface feeing ducks with very large spatulate bills. The smew is a compact diving duck with a delicate bill and Teals are small dabbling ducks. The tufted duck is a medium-sized diving duck with black on the head, neck, breast and back and white on the sides. The velvet scoter is a black sea duck. The wigeon is a medium-sized duck with a round head and small bill. |
