This article will cover many of the ducks you can observe in New Jersey. With the exception of the oceanic ducks and the Teal, Grebes, Coots and a few others, which I will highlight in future pieces.

New Jersey is home to a staggering number of ducks and other waterfowl. Especially in the Winter. It’s amazing what you can see here. What’s even more astounding is that all of the photographs in this article were taken in one location. The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, in Oceanville, NJ.

When we think of Ducks, most of us will immediately picture the Mallard. The most common and for the most part tame of all the ducks we encounter in the Garden State. Often overlooked by photographers because they are so prevalent, they are still wonderful subjects. They are extremely colorful and active, and talkative! (at least the females). The female frequently lets out a long and hearty “laughing” call, that reminds you immediately of some overbearing fan at a comedy “improv” show. Mallards are monogamous and mate for life. You will almost always see them in pairs when flying. It’s almost comforting to see that kind of dedication. It gives me hope as a human being that if it’s possible in the world of ducks, then perhaps we humans can work a little harder at being faithful and keeping our vows. For me, I get a smile every time I see a pair fly in to a pond near me, and make a typically not so graceful landing, followed usually by the female chatting up a storm. I imagine that she is complaining to her mate that he picked a bad spot, or that he didn’t hold the door open for her at the restaurant, or was otherwise doing something wrong. Men are always wrong, even in the world of waterfowl.

Mallards are incredibly fun to watch. Their fights are very entertaining, as one male chases the other potential suitor away, or a scuffle ensues fighting over the best foraging spots. Generally however, they are very cooperative and flock together. Interestingly, I’ve also observed a number of other species that seem to be welcomed by the Mallards and actually forage and spend time with them. (Such as Bufflehead).

Mallard Drake gleaming in the light of the setting sun.

Mallard Drake in Flight

Mallard Hen Cruising in for a Landing over the Ice at Forsythe NWR

Mallard Hen Making a Splash

Mallard Drake with his new friend, a female Bufflehead

Mallard Ducklings

Sometimes seen among a flock of Mallards is a much less often seen duck, the American Widgeon. The male has a striking pattern and flash of metallic green on his head, so he’s easily overlooked when foraging in a group of Mallards. The female is more muted in tone and color, but still distinctive.

American Widgeon Drake on the ice at Forsythe NWR

This particular male, above, was doing just that. There were maybe 20-30 Mallards all foraging in and around the waters in Gull Pond at the Forsythe NWR, and suddenly, I spotted him.  He was nice enough to get out of the water and make a short walk on the ice for me.

American Widgeon hen takes a break from the water.

Mallards and Widgeons are “dabbling” ducks, which describes one of their foraging habits. That is the very fast and frenetic movement of their bill in the shallows when foraging for food. They move their heads side to side while quickly opening and closing their bills, usually while walking forward. This allows them to pick up all sorts of bits of food as they work mud flats or extremely shallow water.

They will also both “tip” in somewhat deeper water to reach plants growing on the bottom of a marsh or pond. This is one of the most common sights when watching a flock of Mallards (or Widgeons and Pintails and a few other species). You see the “duck butts” up out of the water as they poke their heads down to reach the plants below. Sometimes even kicking with their feet to try to reach a little further and to keep their balance.

One of the most undeniably beautiful ducks is the Wood Duck. These ducks are extremely skittish and wary of humans. Normally, close shots of them are only possible with a blind, or just some great luck. They prefer fresh water, and near wooded locations (hence their name). They frequently use man-made nesting boxes as well, and anywhere near those locations is a great location to spot them. They will often perch on branches near the water, and often in groups of a half-dozen or more.

Wood Duck Drake on the Ice

Wood Duck Drake

Wood Ducks - Ducklings

One of the most prolific and common ducks to be seen in our state during the Winter is the Northern Pintail. The Males are brilliantly patterned and have a wonderful long tail that gives them their name. They are also dabblers and tippers and can frequently be seen with Mallards and Gadwalls, foraging voraciously for food in the shallows.

Northern Pintail Drake at Sunset

Northern Pintail Drake

Northern Pintail Drakes fighting over a female.

Northern Pintail Drake in Flight

Northern Pintail Ducks (Drakes and Hens) tuck in against the cold.

Northern Pintail (Drake) dabbling in the mud at Forsythe NWR

Bearing a striking resemblance to the Northern Pintail (at least from a distance) is the Gadwall. This duck is much less common, but still a regular visitor to New Jersey in winter. They are often seen with Pintails, and they frequent shallow waters to feed. They are sometimes seen in nearby grain fields, foraging.

Gadwall Drake

Gadwalls (Drakes and Hens) foraging in a small channel at Forsythe NWR

One of the other very attractive, but less often seen ducks in New Jersey is the Ring-Necked Duck. They prefer fresh water, sometime brackish, and are usually seen in late Autumn and early Winter, when temperatures are still moderate and there is no ice on the ponds and lakes that they frequent. They frequent wooded ponds and areas and are sometimes seen in groups. They are diving ducks but will sometimes tip up to feed. They are also very quick out of the water, jumping into flight without a long takeoff.

Ring-Necked Duck (Drake)

Ring-Necked Duck Pair

Ring-Necked Duck Hen

One of the most popular and flamboyant of the Winter visitors to New Jersey (especially at the shore), is the Northern Shoveler. With it’s oversized bill and bright yellow eye, and in males, a rainbow assortment of colors. They are active feeders in salt and brackish water, preferring to dabble and forage in the shallows. They are often in moderate to large flocks, feeding in unison.

Northern Shoveler Drake

Northern Shoveler Hen

Northern Shoveler Drake in the early morning sun

Northern Shoveler Drake on the wing

Northern Shoveler Drake (Eclipse plumage) gives the evil eye

Northern Shoveler defends his lady love against an unwanted intruder

One of the ducks that is now stabilizing in number after many years of decline, due to conservation efforts in preserving wetlands, is the American Black Duck. The Edwin B. Forsythe refuge is one of their key Winter feeding grounds in New Jersey and in the Northeast. They are more frequently found in salt water areas than Mallards, but will often mix with them. Even to the point of mating with Mallards and forming a hybrid offspring. Like the Mallard, their underwing linings are light and make a stark contrast when seen in flight with their dark upper parts. They are fairly wary ducks, and not as tame or approachable as the Mallards they often associate with.

American Black Duck - Hen

American Black Duck - Drake

American Black Ducks (Males and Females)

Getting my vote for the cutest of all ducks is this diminutive Winter visitor, the Ruddy Duck. Not only are they charming in appearance, but they are incredibly fun to watch in action. They are diving ducks, and are extremely active and proficient. They can stay under water for a fairly long time, and they use their wings and their feet to maneuver under the water. In their summer home areas, they frequent fresh water, but here in New Jersey in Winter, they will most often be found in brackish or calm salt water locations. They also are only seen here in their Winter plumage, for the most part.

Ruddy Duck (Female)

Ruddy Duck Male, still showing some of the summer blue color of the bill

Ruddy Duck (Female) Stands up in preparation for a dive or a shakeoff

Ruddy Duck (Female) starts here dive

Last thing you see is the tail. Ruddy Duck diving.

Ruddy Duck (Female) blowing bubbles

These ducks highlighted here are just some of the many kinds of waterfowl you can see in New Jersey in the course of the year, and especially during migrations and in the Winter months. We are very lucky to be a winter home to so many species, as well as a critical stop over on the Eastern Flyway. Still to come in the series on Waterfowl:  The Ducks and Waterfowl of the Ocean in New Jersey, and an article on some of the other interesting species, such as Bufflehead, Green Teal, and American Coot.

View the entire series