Category: The Sunflower State

The common merganser (Mergus merganser) is a particularly large diving duck with a slim silhouette more like a loon. Keep reading >>

For a view of a somewhat peculiar duck, look no further than the hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus). Keep reading >>

The Barrow’s goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) is a charming little duck named for its yellow eyes, a trait shared by both the male and the female of the species. Keep reading >>

The male common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) presents a very unusual appearance that is not readily forgotten. Keep reading >>

The smallest duck in Kansas is the bufflehead (Bucephala albeola), which takes its name from the fact that it has a small body and a disproportionately large head, like a buffalo or bison. Keep reading >>

The long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis) takes its name from the lengthy, pointed appendage of the male. Keep reading >>

The black scoter (Melanitta nigra) takes its name from the plumage of the male, the only solid black duck in North America. Keep reading >>

The largest of the scoter species in Kansas is the white-winged (Melanitta fusca). It takes its name from the white secondary feathers, visible on both males and females. Keep reading >>