Lake Champlain, located between Vermont, New York, and Quebec, is home to a diverse population of ducks. Throughout the year, bird watchers can spot over a dozen species of ducks that live on or migrate through the lake. In this article, we will explore the most common duck species found on Lake Champlain.
Resident Duck Species
Some duck species live on Lake Champlain year-round. These ducks nest and raise their young on the lake during the summer months. When winter arrives, most of these ducks will move to open sections of the lake where the water does not completely freeze over.
Mallard
The mallard is the most common and widespread duck across North America. On Lake Champlain, mallards can be found year-round living along the marshy shorelines and bays. The male mallard has an iridescent green head, gray body, brown breast, and yellow bill. Females have mottled brown plumage with an orange and brown bill. Mallards are dabbling ducks, tipping headfirst into the water to feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates.
American Black Duck
American black ducks look nearly identical to female mallards. However, black ducks are darker overall, with more blackish-brown plumage. American black ducks live in wetland habitats year-round on Lake Champlain. They dabble in shallow water to find food, consuming aquatic plants, mollusks, and insects. Black ducks breed early in the year, with females laying eggs in hidden nests on the ground in April and May.
Wood Duck
One of the most colorful waterfowl on Lake Champlain is the wood duck. Males have an iridescent green head with white stripes, a burgundy breast, buff flanks, and black markings down the back. Females are more modestly patterned in brown and white. Wood ducks nest in tree cavities near water. Ducklings leap down from heights of up to 60 feet shortly after hatching and make their way to the lake. On Lake Champlain, wood ducks feed on acorns, berries, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates.
Hooded Merganser
Hooded mergansers are small diving ducks that live along Lake Champlain all year. Males have a black crest that can be fanned out, white patches on the wings, and a black back and breast. Females are gray-brown overall with a rusty-brown crest. Hooded mergansers hunt for small fish and aquatic insects by swimming underwater. They nest in tree cavities like wood ducks.
Common Merganser
Larger and lankier than hooded mergansers, common mergansers also reside on Lake Champlain year-round. Males have a green head, white neck, gray back, and orange bill. Females are gray-brown with a reddish-orange crest and white chin. Common mergansers eat small fish, using serrated bills to grasp slippery prey. Breeding begins in late winter; females lay eggs in nests hidden in tree cavities and rock crevices.
Migrating Duck Species
In addition to resident ducks, Lake Champlain serves as an important stopover site for ducks migrating along the Atlantic Flyway between breeding and wintering grounds. Different species pass through the lake in spring and fall.
Spring Migration
During March through May, migratory diving ducks stop on Lake Champlain to rest and refuel on their way north. Some key spring migrant duck species include:
- Lesser scaup – Small diving ducks with a blue bill and crisp white sides on the drake.
- Ring-necked duck – Small black and white ducks with a purple sheen on the head.
- Bufflehead – Tiny ducks with large white head patches on the males.
- Red-breasted merganser – Sleek diving ducks with spiky red head crests.
- Ruddy duck – Compact, stifftailed diving ducks with sky blue bills.
These diving ducks feed on insects, mollusks, and small fish in the lake before heading to subarctic wetlands to breed.
Fall Migration
From September through November, a different suite of dabbling ducks stops at Lake Champlain while travelling south to warmer wintering sites. Notable fall migrant dabbling ducks include:
- American wigeon – Males have white crowns and green eye patches.
- Northern pintail – Elegant ducks with long, pointed tails.
- Green-winged teal – Tiny dabblers with iridescent green head patches.
- Blue-winged teal – Small ducks with sky blue shoulder patches.
- Northern shoveler – Large dabbling ducks with spoon-shaped bills.
These ducks feed in shallow marshes and flooded fields, fueling up on nutrient-rich aquatic plants and seeds before continuing south.
Rare Visitors
In addition to the regular ducks found annually on Lake Champlain, a few vagrant species turn up sporadically after being blown off course during migration. Birders keep an eye out for these rare visitors from Europe or the western North American flyways.
Tufted Duck
This black and white diving duck with a drooping crest breeds across Eurasia and Iceland. Tufted ducks occasionally overshoot their normal migration route and end up on Lake Champlain, where birders eagerly try to spot these rare vagrants.
Surf Scoter
Surf scoters are stocky black and white seaducks of northern oceans that breed in subarctic Canada and winter along both coasts. Very rarely, individual surf scoters get pushed inland during migration and descend on Lake Champlain, which is well outside of their normal range.
Barrow’s Goldeneye
A close relative of common goldeneyes, Barrow’s goldeneyes normally winter along the Pacific Coast and breed in northwestern North America. Once every few years, birders are treated to sightings of brightly colored male Barrow’s goldeneyes among the hundreds of common goldeneyes on Lake Champlain.
Best Spots for Duck Watching on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain offers many excellent spots to view ducks throughout the year. Here are a few top places to check for ducks during your next visit:
Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
Located at the northern end of the lake in Vermont, this wildlife refuge protects extensive wetlands and fields used heavily by migrating and wintering waterfowl. A 3.5 mile wildlife drive loops through different habitats, where ducks may be viewed from the car or along hiking trails.
McKenzie Brook Wetlands Natural Area
South of Lake Champlain in Vermont, this preserve features walking trails winding through marsh, meadows, and forest. An observation platform overlooks McKenzie Brook, where migrating ducks pause in spring and fall.
Cumberland Bay State Park
This state park on the New York side of Lake Champlain offers a scenic beach and open views across the water. A diversity of diving and dabbling ducks can be spotted from the shoreline and fishing pier.
Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area
Every fall, tens of thousands of snow geese descend on this habitat of wetlands and farmland in Vermont. With so many geese arrive huge numbers of dabbling ducks, making this an exciting spot to view waterfowl in autumn.
South Lake Wildlife Management Area
On the New York side of south Lake Champlain, this wildlife area features extensive wetlands and fields. An auto tour route provides access through prime duck habitat. Check flooded agricultural fields for migrating dabblers in spring and fall.
Best Times to See Ducks on Lake Champlain
While ducks live on Lake Champlain year-round, certain times of year are better than others for viewing a diversity of species. Below are the optimal months for duck watching:
- October – Hundreds of thousands of diving ducks stop at Lake Champlain during fall migration.
- Early November – Peak numbers of dabbling ducks use the lake during the fall migration peak.
- Late March/Early April – Spring migration gets underway as ducks start moving north again.
- May – Breeding resident ducks like mergansers and mallards are active with newly hatched ducklings.
Of course, visiting Lake Champlain any time between fall and spring offers the chance to see some incredible ducks.
Conclusion
Lake Champlain serves as an important habitat for ducks throughout the year. Dozens of species either live here year-round, nest and breed during summer, or stop to rest and feed during the spring and fall migrations. By visiting wetlands and waterfront parks around the lakes, bird watchers have an excellent chance of spotting colorful dabbling ducks, elegant diving ducks, and even rare vagrant visitors from afar. So grab your binoculars and start exploring Lake Champlain to see an amazing diversity of ducks!
