Terms
What are waterfowl?
Waterfowl include ducks and geese.* Generally, waterfowl float and wading birds don't.
Maine's famous jagged coastline, and generally rugged terrain statewide, has provided Maine with an abundance and diversity of wetlands unequalled in the northeastern United States. As a result, Maine boasts a diversity of waterfowl species.
Thirty-six waterfowl species use wetlands in Maine to meet some portion of their habitat needs.
Eighteen species breed, or occur during the breeding season in Maine, and 20 species spend the winter months in our coastal waters.
Maine is the geographic division for a number of breeding ranges. The Wood Duck reaches its northern limit and the Common Goldeneye and Common Eider reach their southern limits here. These differences in breeding ranges cause Maine 's breeding populations to vary from south to north.
Similarly, Maine is the geographic division for several wintering species. Maine is near the southern extent of wintering ranges of Barrow's Goldeneye and King Eider, whereas Ruddy Duck, Northern Pintail, and Lesser and Greater Scaup reach their northern wintering range near the Gulf of Maine.
Species most commonly found in the state include:
• Black Duck
• Wood Duck
• Ring-necked Duck
• Mallard
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Green-winged Teal
• Blue-winged Teal
• Common Eider
• Canada Goose
FOOTNOTE
* Waterfowl technically also include swans, but mute swans are an introduced species in Maine, and tundra swans are rare, generally migrating through Maine.
