Quebec’s 34 species of duck fall into 4 categories: dabbling ducks (15 species), diving ducks (15 species), mergansers (3 species) and the ruddy duck.

Coloration :  Most species show marked differences between males and females, particularly during the breeding season.

External characteristics :   Most species have the characteristic “duck bill”, except for the merganser whose bill has serrated edges to catch fish.  Most species also possess a speculum, often iridescent, towards the rear of the wings, whose color changes according to the species.