Not Just Geese and Mallards

Waterbirds are more varied than one might think.

This drawing is based off species I see in eastern North America*, but the underlying principle should hold true almost anywhere. The ducks show strong sexual dimorphism in life; I illustrated males here because they tend to be more distinctive.

Real names for the ducks (top to bottom): gadwall, wood duck, redhead, northern shoveler, hooded merganser, ring-necked duck, ruddy duck, bufflehead

Real names for the non ducks (top to bottom): common loon, double-crested cormorant, ring-billed gull, American coot, pied-billed grebe, black-crowned night heron

*Although I cheated with the ruddy duck. We don't get them in their breeding plumage, much to my disappointment.