Waterfowl migration is one of the most remarkable phenomena in the natural world, with vast flocks traversing thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds. For wildlife managers in Mississippi—a critical wintering area within the Mississippi Flyway—understanding the migratory behavior of waterfowl is essential for informed habitat management, conservation planning, and hunting. But a common question often arises: Do all waterfowl migrate? The short answer is no—not all waterfowl species or individuals migrate, and understanding the nuances is key to effective management.

What Is Migration?

Migration, in the context of waterfowl, refers to the regular seasonal movement between breeding and non-breeding areas. In North America, this typically means traveling from northern breeding grounds in Canada or the northern U.S. to southern wintering areas like Mississippi.

However, migration is not universal across all waterfowl species, nor is it consistent within species. Several factors—including geography, species-specific ecology, weather patterns, food availability, and even human influences—can affect whether a bird migrates and how far it travels.

Fully Migratory Species

Many species of ducks, geese, and  other waterfowl that use Mississippi habitats are fully migratory. These include:

  • Dabbling Ducks and Diving Ducks: Breed across the northern U.S. and Canada; migrate south to winter in the southern U.S. and Mexico. Mallards seen breeding in Mississippi during the spring and summer usually have domestic origins.
  • Blue-winged Teal: Among the earliest fall migrants to Mississippi (or even late summer); many winter in Central and South America. These small dabbling ducks are also among the last to migrate back through Mississippi in the spring as they head north.
  • Snow Geese: Migrate in massive flocks from Arctic breeding grounds to the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley or Gulf Coast.

These species rely heavily on high-quality stopover and wintering habitats in Mississippi, including flooded agricultural fields, managed natural wetlands, and oxbow lakes.

Partially Migratory and Resident Waterfowl

Some waterfowl populations are partially migratory, meaning that only a portion of the population migrates. The rest may remain resident year-round, especially in milder southern climates. Examples include:

  • Wood Ducks: Many migrate, but some remain year-round in Mississippi, especially where wetlands are stable and food is abundant.
  • Canada Geese: While northern populations are strongly migratory, the resident subspecies (Branta canadensis maxima) has established year-round populations throughout the southeastern U.S. through a combination of reduced predation, abundant turfgrass and agriculture, and urbanization. Resident populations of Canada geese may be more tolerant of human presence and can even become nuisances in urban and suburban settings.

Factors Influencing Migration

Several variables influence the migratory tendencies of waterfowl:

  • Latitude and Climate: Birds in northern latitudes are more likely to migrate due to harsher winters and frozen water sources. Timing and duration of weather events like snowfall and below-freezing temperatures play a significant role in the decision to migrate or stay put for some birds.
  • Food Availability: Abundant local resources can allow some birds to overwinter in areas . Conversely, the lack of food availability on the landscape can cause birds to leave and search for areas that can help them meet their dietary needs.
  • Wetland Quality and Water Levels: Especially in Mississippi, wetland management practices (e.g., water drawdowns and flooding schedules) can determine how attractive an area is to overwintering versus resident birds.
  • Human Modification: Supplemental feeding, urban ponds, and golf courses often support non-migratory flocks.

Management Implications

For Mississippi wildlife managers, understanding waterfowl migration patterns informs a variety of decisions in habitat planning:

Dabbling Ducks

Key Species in Mississippi:

  • Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
  • Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
  • Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
  • American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
  • Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

Migratory Behavior:
Mallards are among the most abundant and adaptable dabbling ducks in North America. In Mississippi, they typically arrive in late fall and remain through winter.

Preferred Habitat:

  • Shallow freshwater wetlands
  • Flooded agricultural fields (especially rice and corn)
  • Moist-soil impoundments
  • Bottomland hardwood forests during flood events

Management Strategies:

  • Moist-Soil Management: Mimic natural flooding regimes by flooding impoundments in fall (October–November) and maintaining water through winter. Use drawdowns in spring/summer to stimulate growth of native wetland plants like grasses and sedges.
  • Cropland Integration: Delayed harvest or post-harvest flooding of rice, corn, or soybean fields provides abundant food sources. Residual grain can be a good energy source for migrating mallards, especially during freezing temperatures. Post harvest manipulation can cause a drastic decline in food availability on agricultural fields prior to flooding.
  • Water Level Control: Manage depths to around 4–12 inches to accommodate foraging behaviors. Maintain gradual slopes for access and avoid deep flooding that reduces food availability.
  • Rest Areas: Designate non-hunted sanctuaries to reduce disturbance and allow for rest and recovery. If providing a rest area is not possible, then managing hunting pressure and disturbance can also have similar benefits.

 

Diving Ducks

Key Species in Mississippi:

  • Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
  • Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
  • Redhead (Aythya americana)
  • Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

Migratory Behavior:

Diving ducks typically migrate into Mississippi during late-Fall and remain through the winter months. Species like lesser scaup and ring-necked ducks are common and widespread, but canvasbacks and redheads can be found in concentrations, often keying in on specific food sources. Migration timing and stopover duration are influenced by weather, water levels, and food availability.

Preferred Habitat:

  • Deepwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers
  • Open-water areas with submerged aquatic vegetation and interspersed emergent vegetation
  • Impoundments managed for waterfowl with deeper water zones

Management Strategies:

  • Aquatic Vegetation Enhancement: Promote growth of submerged aquatic vegetation (e.g., wild celery, pondweed, coontail) as well as emergent aquatic plants (e.g., duck potato) by managing permanent deep pools of water, with good light penetration, and minimizing disturbance.
  • Water Depth Management: Maintain water depths between 12–36 inches (with most being around 18 inches) in the deeper portions of managed wetlands and impoundments to support diving behavior.
  • Diversified Wetland Design: Incorporate both shallow margins (for ring-necked ducks and dabblers) and deeper central pools (for diving ducks) within managed impoundments.
  • Rest and Roost Sites: Establish disturbance-free sanctuaries on large water bodies to provide safe resting areas for staging and wintering flocks.

 

Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal (Spatula discors, Anas crecca)

Migratory Behavior:
Teal are early migrants, with blue-wings arriving in August–September and green-wings staying later into the winter. Most blue-winged teal do not overwinter in large numbers in Mississippi but use the state as a stopover.

Preferred Habitat:

  • Shallow ephemeral wetlands and mudflats
  • Flooded moist-soil units with dense invertebrate populations
  • Early-flooded rice fields and natural sloughs

Management Strategies:

  • Early Flooding: Begin flooding in late August to accommodate early teal migration, particularly for blue-winged teal. This also benefits shorebirds and other early migrants.
  • Invertebrate-Rich Habitats: Manage for shallow wetlands with organic material and emergent vegetation to support aquatic invertebrates, which teal rely on heavily during migration.
  • Short Vegetation: Teal prefer open, shallow water areas with low vegetation density. Avoid overly thick vegetation or tall grasses in foraging areas.

Additional Notes:
Teal seasons often open earlier than regular duck seasons, so habitat readiness by late summer is critical for hunting opportunities and conservation.

 

Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa)

Migratory Behavior:
Wood ducks exhibit both migratory and resident behaviors. Many nest and remain in Mississippi year-round, especially in suitable forested wetland habitats. Migrants arrive in fall from northern states.

Preferred Habitat:

  • Forested wetlands, sloughs, and oxbows
  • Beaver ponds and backwater areas
  • Nest boxes in suitable cover
  • Shallow waters with aquatic vegetation and acorns

Management Strategies:

  • Cavity Nesting: Install and maintain wood duck boxes near suitable wetlands (within 0.25 miles of water) with cover for ducklings to hide in when exiting the box. Clean and monitor boxes annually, ideally placing them 4–6 feet above water or ground, with predator guards.
  • Bottomland Hardwood Management: Promote mast-producing trees like oaks and gum. Maintain natural hydrology in forested wetlands to support foraging and nesting.
  • Seasonal Flooding: Flood bottomlands during fall and winter to make acorns and invertebrates available. Water depth should be shallow (<18 inches) to allow dabbling and access to food.

  • Brood Habitat: Ensure connectivity between nesting areas and brood-rearing habitat. Open, shallow wetlands with emergent vegetation are vital for ducklings.

     

Cross-Species Habitat Considerations

  • Diversity of Units: Develop a mix of moist-soil units, forested wetlands, permanent wetlands, and flooded agriculture to support species diversity and migration timing.
  • Water Management Infrastructure: Use levees, culverts, and water control structures to precisely manage seasonal water levels across impoundments.
  • Vegetation Control: Employ disking, burning, and herbicide treatments in spring and summer to encourage desired plant communities and control invasive species like alligator weed or cocklebur.
  • Private Land Incentives: Encourage private landowners to participate in programs like WRP (Wetlands Reserve Program) or MDWFP’s Private Lands Program to increase habitat acreage statewide.

Conclusion

While many waterfowl species are strongly migratory, not all individuals follow the same patterns. Some remain in Mississippi year-round, adapting to local conditions. For many wildlife managers, this means a one-size-fits-all approach to waterfowl management won't suffice. By understanding the diversity in migratory behavior, Mississippi can continue to play a pivotal role in supporting both resident and migratory waterfowl populations across the Mississippi Flyway.