Duck species in Britain

There are around 30 species of duck recorded in the UK, but the exact number depends on how rare visitors are counted.

Regularly Occurring Duck Species

About 22–24 species are considered regular (either resident breeders or frequent winter visitors).

These include:

• Mallard

• Teal

• Wigeon

• Pintail

• Shoveler

• Gadwall

• Tufted Duck

• Pochard

• Goldeneye

• Eider

• Common Scoter

• Velvet Scoter

• Long-tailed Duck

• Goosander

• Red-breasted Merganser

• Shelduck

• Mandarin (introduced but established)

Occasional & Rare Visitors

Several additional species also appear as either scarce migrants or rare vagrants, such as:

• Ring-necked Duck

• American Wigeon

• Green-winged Teal

• Lesser Scaup

• Surf Scoter

• Bufflehead

Breakdown

Resident breeders: ~15 species

Winter visitors: ~10–15 species

Rare/vagrants: 10+ additional species recorded

Grouping UK ducks by habitat makes them much easier to remember. Below are the regularly occurring British species, organised by where you're most likely to see them.

Freshwater Dabbling Ducks (Shallow water, tipping-up feeders)

These feed mainly on the surface or by “dabbling” rather than diving.

Mallard – UK’s most common duck

Eurasian Teal

Eurasian Wigeon

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Mandarin Duck (introduced but established)

Common Shelduck (often coastal too)

📍Best places to find them: lakes, ponds, marshes, slow rivers, reservoirs.

Diving Ducks (Freshwater Lakes & Reservoirs)

These fully dive underwater for food.

Tufted Duck

Common Pochard

Common Goldeneye

Goosander

Red-breasted Merganser

Ring-necked Duck (scarce visitor)

Greater Scaup (mainly coastal but winters inland too)

📍Best places to find them: deep lakes, gravel pits, large reservoirs.

Coastal & Sea Ducks

Mostly found along coastlines, estuaries, and offshore.

Common Eider

Common Scoter

Velvet Scoter

Long-tailed Duck

Surf Scoter (rare visitor)

Greater Scaup (also inland in winter)

Red-breasted Merganser (often coastal)

📍Best places to find them: North Sea coast, Scottish islands, estuaries, large bays.

Summary

Dabbling ducks → Shallow freshwater

Diving ducks → Deep lakes & reservoirs

Sea ducks → Coastal & offshore

Here’s a rough ranking of UK ducks by population size (based on typical winter population estimates).

Grouped from largest populations → smallest regular populations.

🟢 Very Large Populations (100,000+ wintering birds)

Eurasian Wigeon – ~300,000–400,000 wintering

Eurasian Teal – ~200,000–300,000

Mallard – ~200,000+ (resident + wintering)

Northern Shoveler – ~100,000+

Common Shelduck – ~100,000

🟡 Large Populations (50,000–100,000)

Tufted Duck – ~70,000–100,000

Gadwall – ~60,000+

Common Pochard – ~50,000 (declining)

Northern Pintail – ~50,000

🟠 Moderate Populations (10,000–50,000)

Common Goldeneye – ~20,000

Common Eider – ~30,000

Common Scoter – ~20,000 (mostly offshore)

Goosander – ~15,000

Red-breasted Merganser – ~15,000

🔴 Small Populations (<10,000 regular birds)

Mandarin Duck – ~7,000 (breeding population)

Greater Scaup – usually a few thousand

Long-tailed Duck – a few thousand

Velvet Scoter – usually <1,000

⚫ Very Rare / Scarce Visitors (<100–500 most winters)

Surf Scoter

Ring-necked Duck

Lesser Scaup

Bufflehead

American Wigeon

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