Any of about 43 species (tribe Anatini; including 38 species in genus Anas ) of duck s found worldwide, chiefly on inland waters and most commonly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
Strongly migratory, dabbling ducks include some of the world's finest game birds: the black duck, the gadwall , the garganey, the mallard , the pintail (perhaps the world's most abundant waterfowl), the shoveler , the teal s, and the wigeon s. They feed mainly on water plants, which they obtain by tipping-up in shallows and infrequently by diving. They often forage near the shore for seeds and insects. They have a flat, broad bill, float high in the water, and are swift fliers. Males are slightly larger and more boldly coloured than females.
Common, or northern, pintail ( Anas acuta )
s Lawrence E. Naylor, The National Audubon Society Collection/Photo Researchers