Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Birds

Duck-Like Birds - Dabbling Ducks

Dabbling ducks, like mallards, stick close to the surface for their algae and tiny water creatures. Dabbling ducks feed while bobbing around with their tails in the air and heads under water. Dabblers also have a brightly colored patch on their wings, which sets them apart from other ducks.

The following dabbling ducks are found in Central Oregon:

American Wigeon (Anas americana) Y/W

RANGE: Breeds from central Alaska and central Yukon to New Brunswick and southern Nova Scotia, south to northeastern California, central Colorado, South Dakota, southern Ontario, and northern New York, sporadically to the Atlantic Coast. Winters from southern Alaska to southern Nevada, sporadically across the central United States to the southern Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, and on the Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia south throughout the southern United States to Central America.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Inhabits freshwater wetlands and lakes from tundra to shortgrass and mixed prairie, preferring permanent to temporary waters. Commonly associates with diving ducks, and in winter frequents coastal marshes and bays, wet meadows, and shallow freshwater and brackish ponds.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Large lakes, ponds, marshes, sluggish streams and rivers, with open water and exposed shoreline. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Nests in a hollow on dry ground on an island or on shore, in tall grasses or weeds, or at the base of a tree or bush, as far as 400 yards from water.

FOOD: Feeds by grazing and gleaning in wet or dry pastures and fields, by dabbling on the water surface in shallow water along marsh edges and sloughs, and by scavenging for wild celery after diving ducks have torn plants loose from bottom. Primarily vegetarian, eats mainly leaves, stems, and buds of aquatic plants; also feeds on waste grains, mollusks, crustaceans, and insects.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common year-round transient and winter resident in the region. No recent confirmed breeding records, although pairs have been observed in the region into May. Nearest confirmed breeding at Paulina Marsh in northern Lake County and Malheur Refuge in northern Harney County. Especially easily found at Drake Park in downtown Bend fall through spring, although the species occurs anywhere dabbling ducks might congregate, especially shallower irrigation reservoirs.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Baldwin et al. 1964, Bellrose 1976, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Low and Mansell 1983, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980, Verner and Boss 1980.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) M, B

RANGE: Breeds from east-central Alaska and southern Mackenzie to southern Quebec and southwestern Newfoundland, south to northeastern California, east across to central Louisiana, central Tennessee and eastern North Carolina. Winters from southern California to western and southern Texas, the Gulf Coast and North Carolina on the Atlantic Coast south to South America.

STATUS: Common throughout range.

HABITAT: Prefers wetlands on rolling tallgrass prairie but is also found in mixed shortgrass prairie and boreal and deciduous forests. More of a shoreline inhabitant than one of open water, prefers calm water or sluggish currents to fast water. Uses rocks protruding above water, muskrat houses, trunks or limbs of fallen trees, or bare stretches of shoreline or mudflats as resting sites. Winters on shallow inland freshwater marshes and on brackish and saltwater marshes.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Marshes, sloughs, ponds, lakes, and sluggish streams. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Builds nests on dry ground in dense grassy sites such as bluegrass, hayfields, and sedge meadows, where the vegetation ranges from 8 to 24 inches high at the onset of nesting, or under bushes, usually within several hundred yards of open water; occasionally on a sedge tussock or muskrat house, in slough grass, or in alfalfa fields. In good habitat nests communally.

FOOD: Prefers to feed on mud flats, in fields, or in shallow water where there is floating and shallowly submerged vegetation plus abundant small aquatic animal life. Consumes a diet that is 70 percent vegetative, consisting of seeds of sedges; grasses, pondweeds, and smartweeds; stems and leaves of aquatic plants; and snails, mollusks, crustaceans, and insects.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Uncommon spring migrant, rare summer resident and fall migrant. Only one recent confirmed breeding record from Big Summit Prairie in northern Crook County. Records span from mid-April to late September, although the species becomes rare after July. Pairs are observed with some regularity in spring, especially in central Crook and northern Deschutes counties. Occasionally found in small desert oases in eastern Deschutes County.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, Bennet 1938, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Shunk 2004.

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) M, B

RANGE: Breeds from southern British Columbia east to southwestern Saskatchewan (probably), and south into Mexico. Winters from central California, southern Nevada, central Utah, southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and central Texas south to South America.

STATUS: Common in the West, although one of the least abundant dabbling ducks.

HABITAT: Inhabits small, shallow wetlands, including areas with alkaline waters, but may also be found around larger and deeper lakes. Winters primarily on freshwaters, though occasionally found in marine habitats.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Shallow lake margins, ponds bordered by tule and grasses, sloughs, marshes, sluggish streams, reservoirs, and irrigation ditches. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Nests on the ground in dense grasses under 2 feet high, in cattails or reeds near water, or in a hollow in the ground, often 100 feet or more from water. Broods may be moved as far as a mile from the nest site to good brood cover of lush emergent vegetation adjacent to water with abundant food.

FOOD: Feeds by tipping up in shallow water, grazes in grass and in fields, or probes in mud for its food, which is 80 percent vegetative. Primarily consumes seeds and vegetative parts of pondweeds, bulrushes, sedges, smartweeds and grasses; also takes mollusks and insects.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common spring migrant and summer resident, uncommon fall migrant. Pairs observed in freshwater marshes of all sizes, including Hindman Spring at Camp Polk Meadow, Hatfield Lake, Hosmer and Sparks lakes, and Tumalo Reservoir. Spring records begin as early as mid-February, although most easily found late May through late June. Uncommon after July with latest records in early September. Numerous confirmed breeding records in the region, with the highest concentration in central Crook County.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, Grinnell and Miller 1944, Johnsgard 1975b, Low and Mansell 1983, Marshall et al. 2003, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Verner and Boss 1980.

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) M, W

RANGE: Breeds across northern Europe and Asia from Iceland to the Bering Sea. Winters from central Africa to the Far East and in smaller numbers across the United States.

STATUS: Common in its traditional range, with some portions of the population increasing and some decreasing; rare but regular in winter in N. America.

HABITAT: Nearly always seen with American Wigeon, and hence in similar habitat.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Same as American Wigeon in Oregon.

NEST: N/A. Migrates to breeding and nesting grounds in northern Eurasia.

FOOD: Same as American Wigeon in Oregon.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Uncommon to rare fall and spring migrant and occasional winter resident, with records from early October through mid-May. Usually found among large flocks of American Wigeon at small lakes and large ponds, especially Hatfield Lake and Prineville sewage lagoons, as well as Prineville golf course.

REFERENCES: Delany and Scott 2002, Marshall et al. 2003, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004

Gadwall (Anas strepera) Y

RANGE: Breeds from southern Alaska and southern Yukon to the New Brunswick-Nova Scotia border, south locally to southern California, northern Texas, central Minnesota, and northern Pennsylvania and on the Atlantic Coast to North Carolina. Winters from southern Alaska, southern British Columbia and Colorado to southern South Dakota, Iowa, the southern Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay on the Atlantic Coast south to Mexico and the Gulf Coast.

STATUS: Uncommon, but numbers have increased substantially during the past 2 decades and the range is extending eastward.

HABITAT: Inhabits prairie marshes, sloughs, ponds or small lakes in grasslands in both freshwater and brackish habitats. Generally avoids wetlands bordered by woodlands or thick brush, preferring those bordered by dense, low herbaceous vegetation or shrubby willows and with grassy islands. Prefers to winter in freshwater, marshy habitats but can be found on open water of any kind.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Shallow water for feeding; marshes or grassy areas near water for nesting. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Nests on the ground on a well-drained site on islands in lakes, in upland meadows or pastures, in alfalfa fields, or on prairies, usually within 150 feet of water. Prefers to nest in uplands rather than over water, especially in dense, coarse herbaceous vegetation and under shrubby willows.

FOOD: Prefers to feed along shallow marsh edges with abundant aquatic plant life, but also feeds in open water more than other dabblers. Sometimes feeds in stubble fields for grain, or in woods for acorns. Consumes mainly leaves and stems of aquatic plants; also eats insects, mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians, and fishes.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Uncommon spring and fall migrant, rare summer and winter resident. Most often seen with other dabbling ducks at area lakes and reservoirs, including Tumalo and Haystack reservoirs and Hatfield Lake. Spring migration peaks mid-May to mid-June. Few confirmed breeding records, mostly from south central Crook County. Sometimes rare in fall, with winter records from areas of open water, especially area sewage lagoons.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980.

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) M, Y

RANGE: Breeds from Alaska, northwestern and southern Mackenzie to north-central Labrador and Newfoundland south to central Oregon, Colorado, southern Ontario and Quebec, and Nova Scotia; breeds locally from southern California east to southern New Mexico, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, and on the Atlantic Coast to Delaware. Winters from southern Alaska and southern British Columbia to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia south to Central America; also winters in the Hawaiian Islands.

STATUS: Relatively common throughout range.

HABITAT: Inhabits inland waters with dense rushes or other emergent vegetation on mixed and shortgrass prairies, and northern boreal forests. May be found resting on mudbanks or stumps, or perching on low limbs of dead trees. Winters in both freshwater and brackish marshes, ponds, streams, and estuaries.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Lakes, marshes, ponds, pools, and shallow streams. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Nests in a depression on dry ground located at the base of shrubs, under a log, or in dense grass, usually 2 to 300 feet (but up to one-quarter mile) from water.

FOOD: Feeds in shallow marshes or temporarily flooded fields by dabbling, or by probing on mud flats. Consumes a diet that is about 90 percent vegetative, consisting of seeds of aquatic plants, grains, berries, wild grapes, mast, and (to a lesser extent) the vegetative parts of aquatic plants. Also eats some insects, small mollusks, and crustaceans.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common from spring through fall, uncommon in winter at shallow lakes and ponds. Paucity of confirmed breeding records belies the species' regular summer occurrence at high altitude lakes in the Cascades and Ochocos. Annually found in summer at numerous lakes along Century Drive, as well as Meadow Lakes Basin and Big Marsh. Migrants can be found in flooded fields, small irrigation ponds, and larger lakes and reservoirs throughout the region. Regular locations include Hatfield Lake and other sewage lagoons, Pelton Wildlife Overlook below Lake Simtustus, and Haystack and Tumalo reservoirs.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, Harrison 1975, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Y

RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska east to southern Keewatin and across to southern Maine south to California, the southern Great Basin and New Mexico, and from Oklahoma east through the Ohio Valley to Virginia. Winters generally from southern Alaska and southern Canada south to central Mexico. Introduced and established in the Hawaiian Islands.

STATUS: The most common and widely distributed duck in North America.

HABITAT: Inhabits ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, wet meadows, and wooded swamps of primarily mixed and shortgrass prairie; also inhabits boreal forest region and sub-arctic deltas. Winters on inland ponds and rivers with some open water; less commonly in coastal marshes. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along lake and pond shorelines and islands, streamside wetlands, and edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Typically nests on the ground in dry or slightly marshy areas within 300 feet of water, sometimes as far as 1.5 miles away in grasslands. Conceals nest well in snowberry clumps, among weeds and grasses, in pastures, stubble, or cultivated fields, or in marsh vegetation; rarely in cavities, on hollowed tops of stubs, or in tree crotches.

FOOD: Feeds by dabbling in shallow waters of ponds, sloughs, lakes, streams, and swamps, and by grazing and gleaning in grainfields and meadows. Consumes seeds, acorns, nuts, waste grains, aquatic insects, mollusks, tadpoles, frogs, small fish, and fish eggs.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common to abundant permanent resident, with migration and wintering numbers supplemented by northern nesters. Impossible to miss at Mirror Pond in downtown Bend, but also present almost anywhere there is water in the region. Nesting often begins early with earliest fledglings observed in late April. Most confirmed breeding records from late May through early June. Hybrids with domestic ducks frequently observed, especially at Mirror Pond. The region's most common waterfowl species.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Y

RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska across northern Canada to northern and eastern Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to California, across to the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, and Maine. Winters from southern Alaska south to northern New Mexico, and east to central Missouri and the Ohio Valley (uncommonly); along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts, south throughout the southern United States to South America.

STATUS: Abundant in the West and common in the East.

HABITAT: Found in a wide variety of habitats, but typically inhabits open country with low vegetation and with many scattered small, shallow bodies of water. Frequents lakes, rivers, marshes and ponds in grasslands, barrens, dry tundra, open boreal forest, and cultivated fields. Winters on freshwater and brackish coastal marshes, shallow lagoons, mudflats along rivers, and sheltered marine waters.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Drakes need mudbanks or exposed water margins for resting; also shallow wetlands for feeding. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Often builds a nest in a hollow on dry ground, sometimes concealed by grasses or shrubs, usually within 300 feet (occasionally a half mile) from water. Nests in stubble fields, in a dry portion within a large marsh, or in lightly grazed pasture, but generally avoids timbered or extensively brushy areas.

FOOD: Prefers to feed in shallow waters of marshes, ponds, and wet meadows, or in grainfields. Primarily a seed-eater; mostly (87 percent) consumes vegetative diet, consisting of seeds of pondweeds, sedges, grasses, smartweeds, and cultivated grains; also takes some fairy shrimp, snails, earthworms, mollusks, crustaceans, dipteran larvae, and other insects. .

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common spring and fall migrant and year-round transient, usually seen among concentrations of other waterfowl. Nearest confirmed nesting to the region in central Klamath and Lake counties, south central Wheeler County, and northwest Harney County. Usually observed at lakes, reservoirs, and sewage lagoons. No dates available on migration peaks.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Krapu 1974, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Shunk 2004.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) M, B

RANGE: Breeds from northern Alaska to northern Manitoba, south to northwestern and eastern Oregon, northern Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, and Missouri, and central Wisconsin. Winters from the coast of southern British Columbia to central Arizona east to the Gulf Coast and South Carolina on the Atlantic Coast south to South America.

STATUS: Fairly common; more abundant west of the Mississippi River.

HABITAT: Prefers shallow prairie marshes, particularly those with abundant plant and animal life floating on the surface, but also occupies potholes, sloughs, and marshes in taiga, forests, and (less commonly) cultivated country. It tolerates a wide range of water conditions, from clean and clear to muddy; flowing to stagnant; considerably alkaline, and even heavily polluted. Likes to have mudbanks or low sloping shorelines with short or flattened vegetation for loafing. Winters in freshwater and brackish habitats.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Shallow waters with muddy bottoms, surrounded by dry grassy areas for nesting. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Nests on dry ground in a slight hollow, preferably in short grasses within 300 feet of water, but will nest in hayfields, meadows, and rarely bulrushes if grasses are not available. Seldom nests in weed patches, and avoids woody vegetation such as willows.

FOOD: A filter feeder; prefers to feed in shallow waters, but will actively feed in deep waters containing submergent and surface vegetation. Consumes a considerable amount of microscopic animal life such as ostracods, copepods, and similar crustaceans, and macroscopic animal life as well. Eats fingernail clams, mollusks, and insects for one quarter of the diet. Also eats grasses, sedges, water lilies, pondweeds, bulrush seeds, algae, and smartweeds.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common spring and fall migrant, winter resident and summer transient at shallow lakes and reservoirs. No confirmed nesting for the region, although pairs most frequently observed in central Crook County. May nest at Big Marsh in northern Klamath County. Usually seen with other dabbling ducks at Hatfield Lake, Tumalo, Wickiup, and Haystack reservoirs, and rarely at high mountain lakes in migration, such as Suttle Lake.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, DeGraff et al. 1980, Johnsgard 1975b, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976a, Poston 1974, Shunk 2004.

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) M, B

RANGE: Breeds in western North America from southern British Columbia and southwestern Alberta south to central California and western Montana; in eastern North America from east-central Saskatchewan east to Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia south (east of the Rockies) to central and southeastern Texas and the Gulf Coast. In the West, winters irregularly throughout the breeding range; in the East, winters primarily in the southern parts of the breeding range.

STATUS: Common; population has increased in recent years primarily because of the availability of artificial nest structures and protection for most of the year.

HABITAT: Inhabits woodlands near shallow, quiet inland lakes, swamps, river bottoms, ponds, marshes, and streams where nest sites are available. Important forest types are central and southern floodplain forests, red maple swamps, temporarily flooded oak forests, and northern bottomland hardwoods. Prefers areas with many perching sites.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Nest holes in trees or nest boxes in or near still or slow-moving water. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association in Western Oregon riverine woodland.

NEST: Prefers to nest in natural cavities 20 to 50 feet above ground with entrance holes of 4 inches in diameter, cavity depths of 2 feet, and cavity bottoms measuring 10 by 10 inches. Uses nest trees in (or up to one-half mile from) water 3 to 18 inches deep. Readily accepts nest boxes provided with nesting materials of wood shavings or sawdust.

FOOD: Eats about 90 percent plant material. Forages in ponds, marshes, sluggish streams, or along wooded banks for floating duckweeds, baldcypress cones and galls, seeds and tubers, wild rice, acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, grapes, berries, corn, and wheat. Also eats some invertebrates, such as spiders and aquatic insects.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Uncommon resident most commonly seen along the Deschutes River from Mirror Pond in downtown Bend and about a mile downstream. Small numbers also reported infrequently from sewage lagoons and irrigation ponds, such as Hatfield Lake and Lazy Z Ranch. Nesting confirmed from Crescent Creek and Little Deschutes River areas, Upper Crooked River, Sunriver, Glaze Meadow, and spring-fed swamps adjacent to Squaw Creek near Sisters. Confirmation dates range from late April through early August. Most fall through spring sightings may be of dispersed resident birds, with individuals occasionally congregating in flocks of 20 or more birds on slow reaches of the Deschutes River's First Street Trail.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bellrose 1976, Grice and Rogers 1965, McGilvrey 1968, Miller 1999, Palmer 1976b, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980.