Waterfowl

Waterfowl are warm-blooded animals that live on or near water, and include diving ducks and puddle ducks.

Puddle ducks live on shallow ponds and marshes, where they eat seeds and grasses. They spring into the air to fly.

Diving ducks live on lakes and deep ponds and dive for fish, crustaceans, and water plants. They run on top of the water to take off.

Eclipse refers to the plumage of male birds (drakes) when they lose their bright plumage after breeding and resemble females (hens) for a few weeks.Waterfowl are migratory, flying between states and countries. Migration routes are called flyways and are governed by federal and international law.

Wetland Birds

Wetland birds live close to water in marshy and coastal areas. Examples are cranes and pelicans.