Louisiana Waterfowl Nicknames

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Ducks 16 species

Male Female Field marks Official species name Louisiana nicknames
Adult male Mallard, iridescent green head, yellow bill, white neck ringChuck Homler / FocusOnWildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0P1 Adult female Mallard, mottled brown with orange billBengt Nyman, CC BY 2.0P2 The default big puddle duck. M: iridescent green head, yellow bill, white neck ring, chestnut chest, black curled central tail feathers. F: mottled buff-brown with an orange bill smudged with a dark “saddle” and a dark eye-line. Blue speculum bordered white in both sexes, a key mark against Mottled Duck. MallardAnas platyrhynchos Greenhead (drake)12,19, Susie / Suzy (hen)20, canard français14,15
Adult male Mottled Duck, bright yellow bill and blue speculum visible on the folded wing; female standing behindlwolfartist, CC BY 2.0P3 Adult female Mottled Duck, dark buff-brown with olive billDick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0P4 Louisiana’s only year-round breeding dabbler. Sexes similar; both look like a dark hen Mallard but with a plain buff face and unbroken dark eye-line, an unbordered blue-green speculum (no white edges), and a darker chocolate body. M bill yellow-orange; F bill dusky olive. Mottled DuckAnas fulvigula Black duck3, Black mallard3, Summer mallard3,4, French duck3
Adult male Wood Duck, iridescent crested head with white chin strap and red eyeMunish Jauhar, CC BY-SA 3.0P5 Adult female Wood Duck, gray-brown with white teardrop eye ringRhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0P6 Small, swamp-and-cypress bird. M: iridescent green/purple crested head, white “chin-strap” and throat lines, red eye, red-based bill, chestnut chest with white spots. F: gray-brown with a shaggy crest and the diagnostic bright white teardrop eye-ring. Wood DuckAix sponsa Woodie / Woodies5,6, Woodro5, Squealer5,6, Summer duck5, Swamp duck5, Carolina duck5, Acorn duck44, canard branchu16, canard du bois15
Adult male Gadwall, vermiculated gray body with black tail covertsAndreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5P7 Adult female Gadwall, mottled brown with orange-edged dark billAndreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5P8 Louisiana’s marsh workhorse. M: the only drake dabbler with no colorful head, a subtle gray-vermiculated body with a jet-black tail-and-butt. F: a hen-Mallard look-alike, but with a steeper forehead and a thin dark bill neatly edged in orange. Small white speculum in both sexes, the only dabbler with one. GadwallMareca strepera Gray duck7,8, canard gris15,16, Big duck7 In Louisiana, “dos gris” means scaup, not gadwall, do not conflate the two.
Adult male American Wigeon, white forehead with green eye stripeDaniel Polin, CC BY-SA 4.0P9 Adult female American Wigeon, grayish head with pale blue billDaniel Polin, CC BY-SA 4.0P10 Sharp, whistling puddle duck. M: white/cream forehead and crown (“baldpate”), broad iridescent-green eye stripe to the nape, pinkish-brown body, white flanks. F: gray head, warm cinnamon flanks, and the same pale blue-gray bill tipped black. The bill IDs both sexes vs. Gadwall. American WigeonMareca americana Baldpate19, Cotton top20, zin-zin16,15
Adult male Green-winged Teal, chestnut head with green eye patchJeslu (via Flickr), CC BY 2.0P11 Adult female Green-winged Teal, small, plain gray-brownMike’s Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0P12 Smallest LA duck, late-season migrant. M: chestnut head with a bright green eye patch running back to the nape, gray body, and a vertical white shoulder bar (American form). F: tiny plain gray-brown duck; iridescent green speculum flashes in flight. Rides high on the water. Green-winged TealAnas crecca Greenwing9, Rice rocket / Rice burner17, F-1617, Teal burger17, sarcelle45
Adult male Blue-winged Teal, blue-gray head with white facial crescentDan Pancamo, CC BY-SA 2.0P13 Adult female Blue-winged Teal, mottled brownFélix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0P14 The September opener bird. M: gray-blue head with a bold white facial crescent, mottled buff-brown body, black butt with a white hip patch. F: mottled brown, indistinct pale patch at the bill base; chalky sky-blue forewing patch flashes in flight (shared with Cinnamon and Shoveler). Blue-winged TealSpatula discors Bluewing / Bluewings21, Rice rocket17, F-1617, Teal burger17
Adult male Northern Pintail, chocolate head with long tailFrank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0P17 Adult female Northern Pintail, slender with plain buffy headJ.M. Garg, CC BY-SA 3.0P18 The greyhound of the marsh: long, lean, and elegant. M: chocolate-brown head, a thin white finger running up the neck onto the cheek, gray body, and the long central needle tail. F: slender neck, plain buffy head, gray bill, longer pointed tail than other hen dabblers. Northern PintailAnas acuta Sprig10,19, Bull sprig (drake)41,42, Sprigtail17, Pinnie17, paille-en-queue16
Adult male Northern Shoveler, green head with oversized spatulate billAndreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5P19 Adult female Northern Shoveler, mottled brown with oversized spatulate billAndreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5P20 The huge shovel bill IDs both sexes at any distance. M: iridescent green head, bright white breast, rusty chestnut flanks, yellow eye. F: mottled brown with the same oversized dark bill. In LA, “spoonbill” = Shoveler, never Ruddy. Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeata Spoonbill9,30, Spoonie / Spooner30,20, Smiling mallard30,20, Hollywood duck30,20, Boot lip20, micouenne34
Adult male Ring-necked Duck, peaked black head with white spur at breastAlan Vernon, CC BY 2.0P21 Adult female Ring-necked Duck, brown with pale eye ring and ringed billAlan Vernon, CC BY 2.0P22 Peaked-head diver of flooded timber and swamps. M: tall/peaked black head with faint purple gloss, jet-black back (not gray as in scaup), pale gray flanks with a vertical white spur at the shoulder, dark bill with a pale ring near the tip. F: warm brown, peaked head, thin pale eye-ring, same ringed bill. Ring-necked DuckAythya collaris Blackjack1,11,26, Ringbill1, Ringneck / Ringer11 Some SE-Louisiana / New Orleans hunters call ring-necks dos gris15, though the term properly belongs to scaup.
Adult male Lesser Scaup, peaked purple-glossed head and gray backFélix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0P23 Adult female Lesser Scaup, brown with clean white patch at bill baseFélix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0P24 Louisiana’s default “bluebill” and the mass of the coastal raft. M: peaked head with a purple gloss (not green), gray-vermiculated back, small pale-blue bill with a black nail. F: brown with a clean white patch at the bill base and a peaked head. Lesser ScaupAythya affinis dos gris (dogris, doe-gree)24,25,15,16, Bluebill24,27, Dogs (as in “do’gris”)25,26
Adult male Redhead, rounded rufous head and black chestKevin Bercaw, CC BY 3.0P27 Adult female Redhead, warm brown with rounded headDon Faulkner, CC BY-SA 2.0P28 Compact diver of the coastal bays. M: rounded rufous head with a uniform reddish tone (no dark forehead as in Canvasback), black chest, gray body. Bill is blue-gray with a black-tipped white subterminal band. F: warm brown, rounded head, same distinctive bill pattern. RedheadAythya americana Pochard18, violon16,43
Adult male Canvasback, sloping-forehead profile and white backJudy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0P29 Adult female Canvasback, sloping profile and pale grayish backJudy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0P30 The “Roman-nose” profile is the giveaway: the forehead slopes uninterrupted into a long black bill. M: dark red head with a darker forehead, black chest, brilliant white (canvas) back. F: same profile, pale grayish back. Catahoula Lake is the classic LA stronghold. CanvasbackAythya valisineria Bull can / Bull canvasback (drake)22,33,41, Can / King can33, canard cheval (New Orleans)32,16, White-back / Bull-neck (historical)32
Adult male Bufflehead, black and white with iridescent head and wraparound white patchDick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0P31 Adult female Bufflehead, dark head with small white cheek spotMdf, CC BY-SA 3.0P32 Smallest LA diver, a stumpy little dumpling. M: boldly black-and-white; puffy head is iridescent purple-green with a huge wraparound white patch from cheek to nape. F: dark gray-brown head with a small, clean white cheek spot just behind the eye. BuffleheadBucephala albeola Butterball2,29, Buffie20, Buffalo-head / Buffalo-headed duck2
Adult male Hooded Merganser, fan-shaped white crest bordered blackDick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0P35 Adult female Hooded Merganser, cinnamon shaggy crestLen Blumin, CC BY 2.0P36 The little swamp merganser, a fast, low-flying arrow. M: big fan-shaped white crest bordered black, black head and back, cinnamon flanks, thin dark saw-toothed bill. F: cinnamon-orange shaggy crest, gray-brown body, thin dark bill. Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus Hoodie18,31, Hairy head / Hair head18,40, Fish duck31,39, Sawbill39, Trash duck, bec-scie16
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, pink bill, pink legs, white eye ring, black bellyKrazydudez, CC BY-SA 4.0P41 Second Black-bellied Whistling-Duck adult, showing side profileWilliam Stephens, CC BY 4.0, sexes look alikeP42 Long-legged tree-perching duck; loud “pee-wheat” whistle in flight. Sexes look alike: bright pink bill, long pink legs, gray face with a white eye-ring, warm rusty back and breast, jet-black belly, and a big white forewing patch obvious in flight. Range-expanding into LA. Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis Squealer13,23, Black-belly13, Mexican squealer31, Black-bellied tree duck / Tree duck35, Cornfield duck36, Pichichi36 “Squealer” is contested in LA. It’s the traditional name for Wood Duck5 and has migrated onto BBWD as that species has moved north.

Uncommon ducks 6 species

Male Female Field marks Official species name Louisiana nicknames
Adult male Cinnamon Teal, rusty cinnamon body with red eyeUSFWS Pacific Southwest Region, CC BY 2.0P15 Cinnamon Teal pair, female on rightBecky Matsubara, CC BY 2.0, pair shot; female at rightP16 Rare wanderer to Louisiana. M: uniform rusty-cinnamon head and body, red eye, dark bill. F: very like a hen Blue-winged, but warmer buff overall with a plainer face and a longer, slightly spatulate bill; blue forewing patch shared. Cinnamon TealSpatula cyanoptera Cinnie18, Red teal18 No documented Louisiana-specific or Cajun French name. The species is a rare accidental in LA.
Adult male Greater Scaup, rounded green-glossed headCalibas, CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDLP25 Adult female Greater Scaup, brown with bold white patch at bill baseCalibas, public domainP26 Rare in LA; usually a coastal bird. Told from Lesser by rounded head with a green (not purple) gloss, whiter back, and a broader bill with a wider black nail. Female’s white bill-base patch is bolder and larger than Lesser’s. Louisiana hunters rarely distinguish the two in the bag. Greater ScaupAythya marila Bluebill / Big bluebill27, Blackhead18 In practice “dos gris” is applied to scaup as a group in LA24. “Broadbill” is a Long-Island / East-Coast term, not Louisiana usage27.
Adult male Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage, chestnut body with sky-blue billBecky Matsubara, CC BY 2.0P33 Adult female Ruddy Duck, buffy cheek crossed by dark stripeDick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0P34 Little stiff-tailed diver that rides low with its tail cocked up. M breeding: chestnut body, black cap and nape, brilliant white cheek, sky-blue bill. F: gray-brown with a buffy cheek crossed by a single dark horizontal stripe. Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis god-damn / gotdam28,16, Butterball (the original)29, Stiff-tail18, Dollar duck18 In LA “spoonbill” is always the Northern Shoveler, never the Ruddy. The gotdam story comes from market-hunting days, the feathers were so hard-anchored they tore the skin during plucking28.
Adult male Red-breasted Merganser, shaggy green crest with red billChuck Homler / FocusOnWildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0P37 Adult female Red-breasted Merganser, rusty head blending into gray breastChuck Homler / FocusOnWildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0P38 Coastal saltwater bird. M: shaggy dark-green crest, thin red bill, white neck collar, rusty-streaked breast, gray sides. F: rusty head that blends softly into a gray-brown breast (no sharp collar: the key mark against Common Merganser female). Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator Sawbill31, Sheldrake / Shelldrake18,31, Fish duck31, Lawn dart / Sea dart31,18, Mergie31, bec-scie16
Adult male Common Merganser, clean green head and bright white breastTony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0P39 Adult female Common Merganser, rusty head with sharp white breast contrastFrank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0P40 Rare visitor to LA. M: clean glossy green head with no shaggy crest, red bill, brilliant white breast and flanks (no rust as in Red-breasted). F: rusty head that ends sharply at a clean white breast. The crisp border is the key mark against Red-breasted female. Common MerganserMergus merganser Sawbill18, Merg / Mergie18, Lawn dart18, Flying fish stick18, Fish duck, Goosander (European name) Uncommon in LA; no Louisiana-distinct nickname is documented.
Fulvous Whistling-Duck adult, warm cinnamon body with dark nape stripe and white flank stripeDick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0P43 Second Fulvous Whistling-Duck, side profile showing white flank stripeKen Billington, CC BY-SA 3.0, sexes look alikeP44 Uncommon rice-country resident; historically far more common in coastal LA than today. Sexes look alike: warm cinnamon-buff head, neck and underparts, dark chocolate crown with a dark nape line down the back of the neck, dark bill and legs, and a diagnostic white flank stripe. No black belly. Fulvous Whistling-DuckDendrocygna bicolor Fulvous tree duck37,38, Mexican squealer37,39, Squealer37, Pichiguila37

Geese 5 species

Photo(s) Field marks Official species name Louisiana nicknames
White-morph Snow Goose, all white with black wingtips and pink bill
White morph
Blue-morph Snow Goose, white head with slate body
Blue morph
Adrian Pingstone, public domainP45,P46 		Louisiana’s dominant wintering goose, hundreds of thousands on the coastal marsh. Two color morphs of the same species, freely interbreeding. White morph: all-white body, jet-black primary tips, pink bill with a diagnostic dark “grinning patch” along the tomia, pink legs. Blue morph: white head and upper neck, slate-brown body, same pink bill and grin. Both fly and feed together. Snow GooseAnser caerulescens Snows49, Blues (blue morph)49,50, Blue goose (blue morph)48,51, Light geese48,52, Wavies / Wavey53 “Wavies” is a real term but originates from Cree/Ojibwa via northern hunters, not a distinctly Louisiana word. LDWF regulations formally group Snow, Blue, and Ross’s together as “light geese”52.
Ross's Goose, small white goose with black wingtips and stubby bill Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0P47 LA’s pocket-sized snow goose, travels in the big snow flocks. Adult: same white body with black wingtips as a Snow Goose but about half the size. Distinguished from Snow by a short, stubby, triangular bill with no black grinning patch, a warty blue-gray base to the bill, a rounded steep-fronted head, and roughly duck-sized proportions. Ross’s GooseAnser rossii Ross’s / Ross52, Little snow goose54, Light geese (as a group)52 No distinctly Louisiana nickname is documented for Ross’s Goose. Hunters lump it under “light geese” or call it by its formal name.
Greater White-fronted Goose, brown body with white forehead patch, pink bill, and dark belly barring Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0P48 The prize of the SW Louisiana rice prairie, Gueydan, Cameron, Jennings. Adult: brown body, pink bill ringed with a white forehead patch (the “white front”), irregular black barring across the belly (the “specklebelly”), orange legs, dark tail with a white rump band. Distinctive high-pitched “ho-leeleek” call, hence “laughing goose.” Juveniles lack the white face and belly bars. Greater White-fronted GooseAnser albifrons Specklebelly / Speckle-belly52,55,56, Specs / Spec49,57, Laughing goose58, Giggle chicken59,60, Tar-belly / Bar-belly61,60, Ribeye of the sky62, oie caille63 “Ribeye of the sky” is shared with sandhill crane. The Cajun French oie caille comes from an indexed forum thread we could not fetch directly, treat as lower-confidence.
Canada Goose, long black neck with white chinstrap, brown body Joe Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0P49 Uncommon in LA compared with the Midwest, a handful of resident giants plus scattered migrants. Long black neck, black head with a bold white “chinstrap” running ear-to-ear, brown back, pale breast, dark tail with a white U-shaped rump band. Long-billed and long-necked vs. Cackling. Canada GooseBranta canadensis Honker64, Big Canada65, Giant / Giants (B. c. maxima)65, oie canadianne63 The Cajun French oie canadianne comes from the same indexed forum source as oie caille, lower confidence.
Cackling Goose (B. h. minima), small dark goose with stubby bill and small head Tim Bowman / USFWS, public domainP50 Rare in LA. Looks like a mini Canada with a stubby short bill, a small rounded “block” head with a steep forehead, a short thick neck, and a compact body. Subspecies B. h. minima (the diagnostic form pictured) is very dark on the breast; other subspecies are paler. Cackling GooseBranta hutchinsii Cackler66 No Louisiana-distinct nickname documented. LDWF regulations don’t break Cackling out from Canada.

Coots 3 species

Photo Field marks Official species name Louisiana nicknames
American Coot, slate-charcoal body with ivory-white bill and red frontal shield Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0P51 The true poule d’eau. Slate-charcoal body, small head, ivory-white bill with a dark subterminal band, red frontal shield, red eye. Yellow-green legs with lobed (not webbed) toes, distinctive of coots and grebes. Bobs its head walking or swimming. American CootFulica americana poule d’eau / pouldeau67,68,71, Mud hen68, Water chicken / Water hen69, Coot70 In the Louisiana-French dictionary sense, poule d’eau is specifically the American Coot67. In everyday hunter usage it’s a blanket term for all three species below71.
Common Gallinule, slate-gray body with red bill tipped yellow Becky Matsubara, CC BY 2.0P52 Slate-gray head and underparts, warm brown back and wings, and a diagnostic red bill with a bright yellow tip and matching red frontal shield. A white flank stripe runs along the side, and the white under-tail coverts flash as it swims. Legs yellow-green. Common GallinuleGallinula galeata poule d’eau / pouldeau (as blanket term)71, Moorhen / Common moorhen (historical)71, Marsh hen / Chicken of the marsh71 Was formally called “Common Moorhen” before the AOU split in 2011; older Louisiana hunters and cookbooks still use “moorhen.”
Purple Gallinule, iridescent purple body with green back, red bill with yellow tip, blue shield, long yellow legs Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0P53 Iridescent purple-blue head, neck, and underparts; iridescent green back and wings; red bill with a bright yellow tip; pale sky-blue frontal shield; long yellow legs and toes for walking on lily pads and floating vegetation. Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinicus Swamp hen72, Swamp chicken73, pouldeau (as blanket term)71 “Purple Swamphen” is a related but different Old-World species (Porphyrio porphyrio), the “swamp hen” nickname for the Louisiana bird predates the split. “Mardi Gras chicken” and “pond chicken” are sometimes reported but no primary source was located.

Notes on the nicknames

Nickname citations

  1. LDWF, “LDWF Announces 2020 Louisiana Duck Stamp Competition with Ring-necked Duck as the Featured Species”, “Also known as blackjacks or ringbills…” wlf.louisiana.gov
  2. LDWF, “Buck Spencer Wins 2023 Louisiana Waterfowl Conservation Stamp Competition”, “the buffalo-headed duck is also commonly referred to as a butterball.” wlf.louisiana.gov
  3. Louisiana Sportsman, “Back in Black”, “a black duck, a black mallard, a summer mallard, a mottled duck or a French duck…” louisianasportsman.com
  4. Louisiana Sportsman, “Different Ducks”, “the summer mallard, the mottled duck.” louisianasportsman.com
  5. Louisiana Sportsman, “Species Spotlight: Wood Duck”, “Wood ducks are also known as woodies, woodro, swamp duck, Carolina duck, squealer, and summer duck.” louisianasportsman.com
  6. Louisiana Sportsman, “Late Season Squealers”, “‘Woodies’… A typical hunt for ‘squealers’…” louisianasportsman.com
  7. Louisiana Sportsman, “Gray Days”, “every bird in the bag was a gray duck… two teal and four big ducks.” louisianasportsman.com
  8. Louisiana Sportsman, “The Best Gray Duck Call”, “the gadwall, invariably called the gray duck.” louisianasportsman.com
  9. Louisiana Sportsman, “Mid-Season Waterfowl Report”, “quite a few green-winged teal, spoonbill and some scaup.” louisianasportsman.com
  10. Louisiana Sportsman, “Waterfowl Really Plentiful”, “I picked that sprig out…” louisianasportsman.com
  11. Louisiana Sportsman, “Ring-necked Ducks Are King in Southeast Louisiana”, “Blackjack!… 16 drake ringnecks.” louisianasportsman.com
  12. Louisiana Sportsman, “Seeing Green on the Red”, “pick out greenheaded targets in the decoying flock of mallards.” louisianasportsman.com
  13. Louisiana Sportsman, “Whistle Up a Black Belly This Season”, “commonly also referred to as ‘squealers.’” louisianasportsman.com
  14. LSU Department of French Studies, “Cajun French / English Glossary”, “canard français, (n.m.) mallard.” lsu.edu
  15. Refuge Forums, “Cajun word for bluebill / scaup”, contributor-compiled Cajun-French duck vocabulary. refugeforums.com
  16. Google Groups (alt.culture.cajun), extensive Cajun-French bird-name list including canard gris, canard cheval, canard branchu, paille-en-queue, dos gris, violon, zin-zin, gotdam, bec-scie. groups.google.com
  17. Refuge Forums, “Duck Nicknames”, “Rice Rocket, Rice Burners, Teal burgers, F-16’s… Sprigs, Pinnies, Bull Sprig, Forktails.” refugeforums.com
  18. Refuge Forums, “Waterfowl Nicknames”, sheldrake, sea dart, blackhead, broad bill, pochard, Cinnie, red teal, stiff-tail, dollar duck, sawbill, merg, lawn dart, flying fish stick. refugeforums.com
  19. BirdNote, “Hunters’ Names for Ducks”, baldpate for wigeon, greenhead for mallard, sprig for pintail. birdnote.org
  20. HuntBums, “Duck Hunting Slang: The Language of a Duck Hunter”, Suzy, Cotton Top, Spoonie, Boot Lip, Smiling Mallard, Hollywood, Buffie. huntbums.com
  21. Ducks Unlimited, “Bayou Bluewings”, DU Louisiana hunting-destination article using “bluewings.” ducks.org
  22. Ducks Unlimited, “Catahoula Canvasbacks”, “Maybe we’ll get two bull canvasbacks to fly in…” ducks.org
  23. Ducks Unlimited, “Whistling Ducks”, Gulf-Coast birds “locally known as squealers.” ducks.org
  24. The Advocate, “Dos gris” article, “Hunters across south Louisiana call them ‘dos gris,’ and ‘bluebills’ on the East Coast.” theadvocate.com
  25. Tigerdroppings, “What exactly is a dos gris”, “A dos gris is a Scaup or bluebill.” tigerdroppings.com
  26. Tigerdroppings, “Blackjack vs Do Gris, SW LA vs SE LA”, NW LA calls ringnecks “blackjacks”; “Dos Gris/Do-gris = Scaup.” tigerdroppings.com
  27. Field & Stream, “Bluebill Duck”, “heavy blue bills, hence their nickname… also referred to as ‘broadbill’ in regional areas like Long Island.” fieldandstream.com
  28. Country Roads Magazine, “The Ruddy Duck”, “the ruddy duck has a regional name in south Louisiana of ‘God-damn.’” countryroadsmagazine.com
  29. Honest Food (Hank Shaw), “Ruddy Ducks: The Original Butterball”, “the origin of the term ‘butterball’ is neither a turkey nor a bufflehead, but a ruddy duck.” honest-food.net
  30. Garden & Gun, “In Praise of the Spoonie”, lists “spoonbill, spoonie, spooner, smiling mallard, Hollywood duck.” gardenandgun.com
  31. Duckboats.net, “Regional Names for Birds”, “Fishduck = Hooded Merganser… red-breasted merganser = lawn dart, mergie, sawbill… Black-bellied Whistling Duck: Mexican Squealers.” duckboats.net
  32. Lee’s Birdwatching, reprint of Birds vol. 2:1 (1898) on the Canvas-Back, “White-Back, Canard Cheval (New Orleans), Bull-Neck, and Red-Headed Bull-Neck.” leesbird.com
  33. Realtree, “Best States for a Bull Canvasback by Flyway.” realtree.com
  34. BDLP (Base de données lexicographiques panfrancophone), “micouenne”, Louisiana French, “Souchet (canard)” (Northern Shoveler). bdlp.org
  35. Louisiana Wildlife Federation, resolution on Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks, “also called the Black-Bellied Tree Duck.” lawildlifefed.org
  36. Outdoor Alabama (ALDCNR), Black-bellied Whistling Duck, “Other names: Black-bellied tree duck, red-billed whistling duck and cornfield duck… pichichi.” outdooralabama.com
  37. Outdoor Alabama (ALDCNR), Fulvous Whistling Duck, “OTHER NAMES: Fulvous tree duck, Mexican squealer, squealer.” outdooralabama.com
  38. USGS, “Observations of the Fulvous Tree Duck in Louisiana.” usgs.gov
  39. Refuge Forums, “Hooded Merganser” thread, posters use “FISH DUCK,” “SAWBILL.” refugeforums.com
  40. Refuge Forums, “Duck Nicknames” (thread 743294), “Lawn darts, hairy heads, lizards, scissorlips” for mergansers. refugeforums.com
  41. Refuge Forums, “Which male ducks are referred to as ‘bull’”, “Just Bull Sprigs and Bull Cans.” refugeforums.com
  42. Birdwatching Daily, “What is a Bull Sprig?” birdwatchingdaily.com
  43. W.L. McAtee, “Ecclesiastical Bird Names in Louisiana-French,” Names (Dec. 1954), “violon (violin) for the redhead duck.” ans-names.pitt.edu
  44. Merriam-Webster, “acorn duck”, English folk name for the Wood Duck. merriam-webster.com
  45. Merriam-Webster, “sarcelle”, French/Cajun-French for teal. merriam-webster.com
  46. Louisiana Sportsman, “Cocahoe is another name for bait”, documents that “cocahoe” in LA is the gulf killifish, not a duck. louisianasportsman.com
  47. “Yaguasa,” Cuban Spanish, refers to the West Indian Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arborea), not the Fulvous. butterfliesofcuba.com
  48. LDWF, Notice of Intent amending light and white-fronted goose seasons, distinguishes Snow, Blue, and Ross as regulatory categories. wlf.louisiana.gov
  49. Louisiana Sportsman, “Goose, goose, duck!”, “Specs, as white-fronted geese are known in the state.” louisianasportsman.com
  50. Louisiana Sportsman, “Great White North”, recurring “snows and blues.” louisianasportsman.com
  51. Louisiana Sportsman, “Conservation Order Goose Season is On”, “Snow Goose, Blue Goose, Ross’s Goose.” louisianasportsman.com
  52. LDWF, Seasons and Regulations, “Light Geese (Snow, Blue, Ross)” and “White-fronted Geese (Specklebelly).” wlf.louisiana.gov
  53. Wiktionary, “wavey”, snow goose, from Cree we·hwe·w via Ojibwa. en.wiktionary.org
  54. 10,000 Birds, “Ross’s Goose, the Little Snow Goose.” 10000birds.com
  55. Louisiana Sportsman, “Specklebelly Goose Hunting.” louisianasportsman.com
  56. Ducks Unlimited, “Specklebelly Goose Tips.” ducks.org
  57. Louisiana Sportsman, “Breaking the language barrier, expert tips for specklebelly goose hunting.” louisianasportsman.com
  58. BirdNote, “Laughing Goose”, named for the “ho-leeleek” call. birdnote.org
  59. Buck Gardner “Giggle Chicken Poly” specklebelly call product page. buckgardner.com
  60. Project Upland, “Greater White-fronted Goose, the Elusive Specklebelly.” projectupland.com
  61. Louisiana Sportsman, “Specklebellies save the day”, uses “Tarbelly.” louisianasportsman.com
  62. HuntStand, “Specklebelly Goose Hunting Facts and Tips”, “ribeye of the sky.” huntstand.com
  63. SaltyCajun.com forum thread (Cajun French bird names, per Google-indexed excerpt; direct fetch failed, treat as lower-confidence for oie caille, oie aigle, oie canadianne). saltycajun.com
  64. Country Roads Magazine, “Canada Geese” (Louisiana regional), “honkers, as they are known.” countryroadsmagazine.com
  65. Ducks Unlimited, “Land of the Giants”, on B. c. maxima giant Canada geese. ducks.org
  66. Ducks Unlimited, “Understanding Waterfowl: A Closer Look at Cacklers.” ducks.org
  67. Wiktionary, “poule d’eau”, American coot (Fulica americana) in Louisiana and Missouri French dialects. en.wiktionary.org
  68. Wikipedia, “American coot”, “the Cajun word for coot is pouldeau… also known as a mud hen.” en.wikipedia.org
  69. The Advocate, “Whack those ‘water chickens’”, on Louisiana coot hunting. theadvocate.com
  70. Louisiana Sportsman, “Chuck Buckley’s Duck & Coot Gumbo”, “coots (poule d’eaus).” louisianasportsman.com
  71. American Press, “Distinguishing between types of pouldeau”, documents that Louisiana hunters use pouldeau as a blanket term for coot, moorhen, and purple gallinule. americanpress.com
  72. Kemper County Messenger, “Purple Gallinule better known as ‘Swamp Hen.’” kempercountymessenger.com
  73. Janthina Images, “Purple Gallinule, the prettiest swamp chicken.” janthinaimages.wordpress.com

Photo credits

All photos are hotlinked from Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons or public-domain licenses. Click through for the Commons file page with full license terms.

  1. Male Mallard, Chuck Homler / FocusOnWildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0
  2. Female Mallard, Bengt Nyman, CC BY 2.0
  3. Male Mottled Duck (with female behind), lwolfartist, CC BY 2.0
  4. Female Mottled Duck, Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
  5. Male Wood Duck, Munish Jauhar, CC BY-SA 3.0
  6. Female Wood Duck, Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0
  7. Male Gadwall, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5
  8. Female Gadwall, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5
  9. Male American Wigeon, Daniel Polin, CC BY-SA 4.0
  10. Female American Wigeon, Daniel Polin, CC BY-SA 4.0
  11. Male Green-winged Teal, Jeslu (via Flickr), CC BY 2.0
  12. Female Green-winged Teal, Mike’s Birds, CC BY-SA 2.0
  13. Male Blue-winged Teal, Dan Pancamo, CC BY-SA 2.0
  14. Female Blue-winged Teal, Félix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0
  15. Male Cinnamon Teal, USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, CC BY 2.0 / public domain
  16. Cinnamon Teal pair (female at right), Becky Matsubara, CC BY 2.0
  17. Male Northern Pintail, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
  18. Female Northern Pintail, J.M. Garg, CC BY-SA 3.0
  19. Male Northern Shoveler, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5
  20. Female Northern Shoveler, Andreas Trepte, CC BY-SA 2.5
  21. Male Ring-necked Duck, Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0
  22. Female Ring-necked Duck, Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0
  23. Male Lesser Scaup, Félix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0
  24. Female Lesser Scaup, Félix Uribe, CC BY-SA 2.0
  25. Male Greater Scaup, Calibas, CC BY-SA 3.0 / GFDL
  26. Female Greater Scaup, Calibas, public domain
  27. Male Redhead, Kevin Bercaw, CC BY 3.0
  28. Female Redhead, Don Faulkner, CC BY-SA 2.0
  29. Male Canvasback, Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0
  30. Female Canvasback, Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0
  31. Male Bufflehead, Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
  32. Female Bufflehead, Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0
  33. Male Ruddy Duck, Becky Matsubara, CC BY 2.0
  34. Female Ruddy Duck, Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
  35. Male Hooded Merganser, Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
  36. Female Hooded Merganser, Len Blumin, CC BY 2.0
  37. Male Red-breasted Merganser, Chuck Homler / FocusOnWildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0
  38. Female Red-breasted Merganser, Chuck Homler / FocusOnWildlife, CC BY-SA 4.0
  39. Male Common Merganser, Tony Hisgett, CC BY 2.0
  40. Female Common Merganser, Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 3.0
  41. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (1), Krazydudez, CC BY-SA 4.0
  42. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (2), William Stephens, CC BY 4.0
  43. Fulvous Whistling-Duck (primary), Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
  44. Fulvous Whistling-Duck (side profile), Ken Billington, CC BY-SA 3.0
  45. Snow Goose, white morph, Adrian Pingstone, public domain
  46. Snow Goose, blue morph, Adrian Pingstone, public domain
  47. Ross’s Goose, Alan Vernon, CC BY 2.0
  48. Greater White-fronted Goose (gambelli), Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0
  49. Canada Goose, Joe Ravi, CC BY-SA 3.0
  50. Cackling Goose (B. h. minima), Tim Bowman / USFWS, public domain
  51. American Coot, Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0
  52. Common Gallinule, Becky Matsubara, CC BY 2.0
  53. Purple Gallinule, Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0