Wild ducks in Germany: 15 species of wild ducks Plantopedia

The duck bird family has over 150 species. These include known water birds and unknown specimens. In the following post you will find some wild ducks that live in Germany.

The duck birds

Ducks are part of the order of the geese. Traditionally, among the duck birds, there are geese and ducks. Consequently, the term wild duck includes all duck birds that have not been domesticated by humans.

Note: It is often surprising that geese are ducks. Ducks is the family. Geese, half geese, and ducks are subfamilies within this group.

15 wild duck species in Germany

Duck birds can be found on almost every continent in the world. In temperate climates, the ducks like to hike a lot. There are also diurnal and nocturnal ducks. Here is an overview of some wild ducks that are found in Germany.

Wild ducks from A - K

Scallops (Aythya marila)

• occurs in coniferous forest zone
• often to Europe in winter, only sporadically in Central Europe
• up to 50 cm tall and approx. 1.2 kg in weight
• Neck, chest: black, dark tail and white sides, gray back, dark green head plumage
• strong similarities to tufted duck
• predominantly animal food

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)

• Family of ducks, also called "shelduck"
• 2 different populations in the world
• prefers regions near the coast
• 58 to 67 cm tall
• optically similar to the shoveler
• Feathers: black-gray, dark stripe from shoulders to tail
• black band on the belly, brown chest, the rest of the body white
• Noticeably whistling flight noise, mostly moves on at night

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

• natural occurrence: North America, actively imported into Europe
• no free-living self-sustaining colonies in Europe
• worldwide occurrence clearly recovered
• omnivorous diet
• up to 54 cm tall, smaller than European mallards
• Males: showy, colorful plumage
• Females: gray head and gray-brown plumage

Greylag goose (Anser anser)

• most abundant waterfowl in the world
• second largest goose species in Europe, diurnal and nocturnal
• Plumage lighter than other geese
• up to 90 cm tall, up to 4 kg in weight
• longitudinally striped feathers and light-colored forewings

Wild ducks from L - Q

Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

• smaller than mallard
• striking plumage and contrasting colors
• in almost all of Europe
• up to 50 cm tall and weighing up to 1.1 kg
• white chest and dark back with red-brown spots - males and females are clearly different

Moor duck (Aythya nyroca)

• belongs to Diving ducks
• European species of duck, temperate climate zone
• up to 42 cm in size and up to 560 g in weight
• brown plumage, white eyes
• Females: somewhat paler
• in shallow waters, diet: vegetarian

Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

• Duck bird that belongs to the Half geese heard
• more and more common in Europe, urban parks
• dark spots on eyes
• Sexes similar, males slightly larger
• Origin: Africa

Wigeon (Mareca penelope)

• predominantly in the north
• in winter in the south, as long as over 1.5 million copies in Europe
• Body length up to 51 cm
• slightly smaller than common mallards
• Males: red-brown head
• Females: paler

Wild ducks from R - S

Rowing duck (oxyurini)

• diving wild ducks are completely different from other species
• adapted to life in the water
• Widespread on almost all continents
• in Europe, however, rarely on rivers and lakes
• Nutrition of plant and animal substances from soil sludge

Common golden-headed duck (Bucephala clangula)

• northern coniferous forest zone, often near water
• especially short neck and large head
• popular winter guest in our climes
• up to 50 cm tall and up to 1.3 kg in weight
• Males: black and white, dark head
• Females: gray, dark brown head
• Diet: snails, parts of plants, fish and insects
• dives to a depth of 8 m

Gadfly (Mareca strepera)

• also called middle duck and squeaky duck
• Males: inconspicuous plumage
• up to 55 cm tall and 1.3 kg in weight
• orange-yellow legs and black-colored eyes
• widespread in Central Europe
• prefers life on shallow lakes
• feeds on plants instead of animal substances

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

• most famous Swimming ducks Europe, spread all over the world
• Duck family
• Males: green metallic head and yellow beak
• Females: orange-yellow beak but light brown body
• natural enemies are foxes and birds of prey
• Undemanding diet, as an omnivorous kind, eats everything it gets
• vertical takeoff in flight

Wild ducks from T - Z

Scoter (Melanitta nigra)

• Name comes from black coloring
• in winter on the Baltic and North Sea
• up to 1.4 kg in weight and 54 cm tall
• usually flies fast and low instead of high
• in large groups, because sociable animals
• eat small fish and insects in fresh water
• dive up to 30 m deep

Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

• only swan that is almost completely black
• from Western Australia
• Feral specimens released in Europe
• up to 140 cm long
• up to 6 kg
• greet each other in a loud voice
• protected bays and estuaries
• not a migratory bird, but stays in 1 region for its entire life

Little goose (Anser erythropus)

• rarest goose species in Europe
• Migratory bird, also in Western Europe in winter
• up to 66 cm tall
• up to 2.2 kg
• brown and white plumage, cream-colored head
• Foraging takes place in the countryside
• Breeding season May to June
• but endangered species

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