Canada Goose
(Branta canadensis)

The Canada Goose breeds on the Alabama coast. It is rare winter, spring and fall and occasional in summer.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)  

Ross's Goose
(Chen rossii)

Often seen with the Snow Goose, North America's smallest goose is said to have a gentle expression. It can be distinguished from the Snow Goose from a distance by its smaller size and shorter neck and at close range by its stubby triangular bill. It is a rare winter visitor to the Alabama coast.

(Photo by Marlene Cashen)

Mottled Duck
(Anas fulvigula)

A warm-weather species, the Mottled Duck breeds on the Alabama coast. It prefers remote marshes, so its population is relatively stable. It is uncommon in winter, and is fairly common spring, summer, and fall.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Northern Shoveler
(Anas clypeata)

The Northern Shoveler is common in winter and spring, absent in the summer, and uncommon in the fall on the Alabama coast. It needs shallow open areas where it can sieve the water with its large bill for crustaceans, insects, mollusks, seeds and aquatic plants.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

Hooded Merganser
(Lophodytes cucullatus)

The Hooded Merganser breeds on the Alabama coast and is uncommon winter and spring and occasional summer and fall. It prefers fresh water near the coast in the winter and in the breeding season is found on woodland ponds, rivers or backwaters in small flocks.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)    

Common Merganser
(Mergus merganser)

Common Merganser is occasionally found in the winter and spring on the Alabama coast.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)

American Wigeon
(Anas americana)

The American Wigeon is fairly common on the Gulf Coast winter, spring and fall. They are often seen in the company of diving birds and wait at the surface for the other birds to dive and snatch the food away when the birds reappear.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)   

Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos)

Adult male breeding plumage (October - May)
The familiar Mallard is found in any wet habitat from city parks to tundra ponds. They are fairly common winter visitors to Alabama estuaries from late September to early March.

Wood Duck
(Aix sponsa)

Wood Ducks are found wherever large tracts of swamplands and adjacent woodlands provide adequate cavities for nest sites and acorns, their principal food.

Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis)

Adult male non-breeding plumage (September - March)
Ruddy Ducks occur on open ponds and bays, often in tight flocks. Most birds arrive on the Alabama Gulf Coast in October and remain through April.

Ring-necked Duck
(Athya collaris)

Adult female breeding plumage (October - March)
Ring-necked Ducks prefer smaller, often wooded ponds, but they also occur on shallow estuarine bays.

Red-breasted Merganser   female

(Mergus serrator)

The flight of this species is rapid and usually in line, one bird behind another.

(photo by Terry Hartley)

Red-breasted Merganser
(Mergus serrator)

Unlike the other mergansers, the Red- breasted prefers brackish or salt water in winter. It is common on the Alabama coast in the winter around jetties and beaches, uncommon spring and fall, and occasional in summer.

(Photo by Dave Cagnolatti)