Duck ID

[CP]

This is embarrassing but I can’t ID these ducks.  I know they are legal but I’ve never run across this coloring before.  Teal size, flies & acts like a teal, looks like a scaup, blue bill, black feet, distinctive white patch under the eye running to the back of the head, white wing patch.

Any ideas?

[spur_ride]

Buffle head

[washelkhntr]

Not trying to ba an ass here, but if you can't identify your target how do you know they are legal?

[Professor Chaos]

hen buffies.  if you dont know what it is, dont shoot it.  they have a different wing beat and flight pattern than teal as well.

[h2ofowlr]

I think those butterballs are on the endangered species list.  No worries, keep shooting them.   

[CP]

Thanks, that’s a match.

As for why the hell am I shooting it without a positive ID, I knew that would be coming, and I admit I deserve it.  But what would be illegal – whatever it turned out to be I was 100% certain it would be legal per this:

Daily bag limit: to include not more than 2 hen mallard, 2 pintail, 3 scaup (see restricted dates above), 1 canvasback, 2 redhead, 1 harlequin, 4 scoter, & 4
long-tailed duck.
Possession limit: to include not more than 4 hen mallard, 4 pintail, 6 scaup (see restricted dates above), 2 canvasback, 4 redhead, 1 harlequin, 8 scoter, & 8
long-tailed duck.
Season limit: 1 harlequin.

[h2ofowlr]

I wouldn't go just off what the regs cover, as there are a lot more birds not mentioned that fly the shorelines that you can't shoot.  So, you probably shouldn't just shoot and assume your going to fall into the 100% A-Okay category.  A similar one that can get confused are the grebe's with butterballs at times.  Those you can't shoot and probably won't see mention in the waterfowl manual.  Just trying to help you not get a ticket by accident.  Just a heads up: If you shoot a mallard full of Wonder Bread, you may be hunting within city or park limits.  

[teal101]

General rule of thumb is if you don't know don't shoot.  Get yourself a bird book and study up.  By age 10 I could identify all species of waterfowl we encounter on this side of the mountains in flight by flying characteristics and color from time studying at home and in the field.

They fly a lot different from teal as well.  Their flying behavior is more similar to other divers and more closely to that of a goldeneye (which is also a cousin to them).

[jordano]

luckily those are hen bufflehead which are all over everywhere. but definately know what you are shooting before you shoot them always, always, always.

[h2ofowlr]

Another mature bird shot.

[boneaddict]

You handled that point very diplomatically h20fowler.  Thanks

[Seaslave]

Definately Hen Bufflehead. I've only been waterfowl hunting a few years and when I was new I used this website http://www.ejphoto.com/Birds.htm to help learn the different species. This dudes website has all the species we see here and then some with pictures of hens and drakes. Check it out.


-Mathue