Creature Feature: Weird Duck Medley

They're dapper, perfectly coifed, and here for love: welcome to San Diego, weird waterfowl!

This month's creature feature is a fantastic deal—nine for the price of one!

In honor of Weird Duck Time, I wanted to highlight some of the beautiful ducks that grace our lakes and estuaries this time of year.

These "snow birds" are here for the winter, enjoying our warmer weather before they head back to Canada for the summer breeding season. Our waterways offer them food and refuge, and in return, these migratory ducks contribute to our county's whopping 535 local bird species — the highest count in the nation.

Though we don't get to see these birds in their vibrant breeding plumage, many still put on a show with their dramatic tail feathers, eye-catching iridescence, and uniquely shaped bills (which differ depending on whether they dabble or dive).

If you visit any of the bays, coastal lagoons, or reservoirs around the county, you're sure to see some or all of these beauties. If you're in the market for some binoculars, I have a few recommendations on my website.

Now who are these dapper ducks? Right to left, top to bottom they are: ruddy duck, redhead, green-winged teal, northern pintail (my favorite), northern shoveler (my other favorite), American widgeon, red-breasted merganser, greater scaup, and bufflehead.