Gloucestershire Wildfowlers Association Wildfowl Identification Course

Every year, in conjunction with the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Slimbridge, the GWA run a Wildfowl ID course for the benefit of new members. This course is designed to teach a complete novice the essential skills of competent Wildfowl recognition and is an essential stage of the membership process.

	GREYLAG: Large goose with a distinct heavy head and bill; pale grey shoulders; white rump; low 'ang-ang' call
	PINKFOOT: Medium sized goose with apparent dark head; more slender and with paler underparts than greylag; distinctive 'wink-wink' call
	WHITE FRONT: Medium to large size; black barring on chest; darker, more slender than greylag; high pitched 'hank-hank-hank' call
	CANADA GOOSE: Large, heavy goose with black head with white bar; light underparts; low 'honk-honk' call
	BRENT (Protected): Small goose with apparent black head and chest; dark underparts; distinctive rolling call
	MALLARD: Strong, fairly fast level flight with rapid wing beats; large size; drake normally silent in flight, duck emits the familiar low 'quack'
	WIGEON: Rapid flight with wings appearing sickle-shaped; medium size; light belly with white shoulders; short bill; cock gives a high pitched 'whee-ooo' whistle while the hen has a low 'purr'
	PINTAIL: Fast rapid flight. medium to large size; male has characteristic 'pin' tail but both sexes are slender, long birds with slightly sickle-shaped wings; male gives a lower pitched 'prip' than the teal and the duck has a rather weak, mallard 'like 'quack'
	TEAL: Very rapid flight with small flocks frequently rising and dipping in unison; small size; the male has a 'prip-prip' call while the female 'quacks'
	SHOVELER: Rapid flight with rattling sound from wings; medium size; light blue shoulders prominent in flight; characteristic large spatulate bill appears longer than the head; rarely 'quacks' in flight
	GOLDEN EYE: Fast, direct flight with audible wing rattle; medium size; light underparts; light cheek patch of male usually visible; normally silent
	POCHARD: Strong, fast flight; medium size; male has a low pitched whistle and female rare deep 'kurr'
	TUFTED DUCK: Fluttery flight; small to medium size; males sometimes have a clear colour contrast but females less so; rarely 'quacks' in flight
	SHELDUCK (Protected): Slow, strong, goose like flight; large size; contrasting markings usually visible even in very poor light; male occasionally whistles; female has a short, low mallard like 'quack'