Post on 03-Jan-2016
BIOL 4142 Photo QuizLab 1 Ornithology birds:
Anseriformes and Galliformes
First, you’ll see a photo showing just enough to allow you to clinch the ID. Then, you’ll see the full photo with the name and perhaps some ID tips on specimens (not field ID)
American Wigeon; Anatidae; Anseriformes
No other bird, much less other duck, has a whitish forehead with green on the face
Green-winged Teal; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Green face patch on reddish-chestnut head unique. Warning = that white mark on the sides of the breast sometimes hard to see in study skins
Blue-winged Teal; Anatidae; Anseriformes
No other bird, much less other duck, has a whitish crescent on face; pale blue secondary coverts are a bonus
Bufflehead; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Two species!
Canada Goose and Cackling Goose; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Check out the difference in bill shape: Cackling is disproportionately shorter, more triangular
Canvasback; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Reddish head, white back, black breast
Fulvous Whistling-Duck; Anatidae; Anseriformes
You can barely see the line of black feathers down the back of the neck; note the plain light-brown face
Northern Pintail; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Brown head, with clean white breast and white extending up sides of neck
Gadwall; Anatidae; Anseriformes
GRAY! But compare to N. Pintail and Green-winged Teal
Northern Bobwhite; Odontophoridae; Galliformes
Unmistakable; those wavy dark markings on the breast and belly are distinctive
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck; Anatidae; AnseriformesNo other duck has plain face and solid black belly
Greater White-fronted Goose; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Either the irregular black markings on the breast and belly OR the white on the face is diagnostic (compare with Blue-winged Teal)
Mallard; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Green head, white neck ring, brown breast …
Tough one!
Snow Goose (blue phase); Anatidae; Anseriformes
Redhead; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Reddish head, black breast, gray back – compare to Canvasback
Hooded Merganser; Anatidae; Anseriformes
White patch on head diagnostic, but compare to Bufflehead
Lesser Scaup; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Blackish head and breast with paler back (varies almost white to fairly dark grayish, usually mottled)
Female Red-breasted Merganser; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Shaggy reddish-brown head, narrow bill (which will show serrations clearly in the specimen)
Northern Shoveler; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Expanded bill tip diagnostic
Wild Turkey; Phasianidae; Galliformes
Nothing else has those colors and patterns on the back or wings
Vaguely like a Mallard, but skinny serrated bill, and much “messier” overall
Red-beasted Merganser; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Dark head AND black back – contrast with Lesser Scaup
Ring-necked Duck; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Ruddy Duck; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Dark crown with clean white face
Wood Duck; Anatidae; Anseriformes
What else could it be?
Two species
Snow Goose & Ross’s Goose; Anatidae; Anseriformes
Check out the difference in bill shape: Ross’s is disproportionately shorter, more triangular