The familiar Gadwall (Mareca strepera), a widespread dabbing duck, is a common spring and fall migrant in Wisconsin. Gadwalls are also occasional winter residents in the southeastern part of the state.
Yellow-crowned Night Herons are spotted regularly during migration in southern Wisconsin, and may even breed rarely in the state, with a few reports in the Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlas.
Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) are named for a chestnut ring encircling the necks of the drakes, but it is faint and can only be seen at close range or with a bird in hand.
Black-bellied and Fulvous Whistling-ducks are found in the southern United States. Both species were formerly known as “tree ducks” since they often roost in trees.
You can spot the Blue-winged Teal’s dabbling blue-gray head—with a distinctive white crescent in front of the eye—in wetlands this time of year, having just recently arrived.