The field guide
All UK duck species
Browse the full photographic guide. Filter by family or conservation status, or search by name. Each profile has male & female plumage, field marks, calls and habitat maps.
5 species found
Red list
❄️
Common Pochard
Aythya ferina
A round-headed diving duck whose drake glows chestnut and silver on a winter lake.
- Length
- 42–49 cm
- Wingspan
- 72–82 cm
- Feeds
- Diver
Red list
❄️
Greater Scaup
Aythya marila
A chunky, round-headed diving duck of the open coast, the sea-going cousin of the tufted duck.
- Length
- 42–51 cm
- Wingspan
- 71–80 cm
- Feeds
- Sea duck
Red list
❄️
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigra
A dark sea duck that winters in long, low, fast-flying strings far offshore.
- Length
- 44–54 cm
- Wingspan
- 79–87 cm
- Feeds
- Sea duck
Red list
❄️
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fusca
A large, dark sea duck with a bright wing flash, rarer and bigger than its common cousin.
- Length
- 51–58 cm
- Wingspan
- 90–99 cm
- Feeds
- Sea duck
Red list
❄️
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
A small, buoyant Arctic sea duck with a needle tail and an astonishing musical voice.
- Length
- 38–47 cm
- Wingspan
- 69–76 cm
- Feeds
- Sea duck