I've got my eye on you!

December 02, 2013 by Brad Beaulieu

The Eyes Have It According to Ducks Unlimited, waterfowl can see two to three times farther than humans, thanks to powerful muscles that control the curvature of their corneas and lenses. In the human eye, only the lens can adjust. This remarkable adaptation suggests that a duck’s vision is by far its most powerful sense. It can see a lot farther than it can hear.

As hunters, when our goal is gaining the attention of migrators or passing flocks, perhaps we should ditch the hail call and focus our efforts on creating the most visible and realistic spread that our resources allow. Waterfowl also have one of the most highly developed retinas in nature. A vast number of color-­receptive cones within the retina help ducks form crisp images and spot the human form, but the trade-off is poor night vision.

Additionally, the retina sports a structure unique to avians known as the pecten—a high concentration of blood vessels that provides superior sensitivity to motion. So, waterfowl’s advanced retinas mandate that hunters remain still, keep hat brims low, and make a good hide.

Color Perception Ducks and geese don’t see color the way we do. They see reds, greens, yellows, and blues more vibrantly—thanks to their retinas—plus an extra set of cones allows them to see ultraviolet radiation. This gives them exceptional light sensitivity; as a result, shine and glare are the duck hunter’s enemy. Whether it’s a blued shotgun receiver or a pale, exposed face, waterfowl are adept at spotting unnatural reflection.

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