Fifteen different species of sea ducks are common in the United States.

• Common Eider
• King Eider
• Spectacled Eider
• Steller's Eider
• Black Scoter
• White-winged Scoter
• Surf Scoter
• Barrow's Goldeneye
• Common Goldeneye
• Bufflehead
• Long-tailed Duck
• Harlequin Duck
• Common Merganser
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Hooded Merganser

Because they are migratory birds, the United States and Canada manage them under the terms of the 1986 North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Their web site, The Sea Duck Joint Venture, contains research information covering all the species.

Considered as a subfamily, the name sea ducks may be a bit of a misnomer. As a group they do tend to live in salt water habitats.

Some species, such as the Mergansers, also spend time in fresh water lakes and rivers.

The male and female Common Mergansers in the picture are familiar residents of rivers and lakes around the United States except for the Southeast.

Like the diving ducks, sea ducks have a varied diet, eating fish, mollusks, insects and other animal matter in their feeding area.

Click on any link in the box to learn more about a specific species of sea duck.

© 2006-22008 Patricia A. Michaels