Missouri Duck Migration Report 2026

Duck observations in Missouri usually climb from the week of Oct 26 and reach their fall high around the week of Nov 16; they stay above the halfway mark between their July level and that high through the week of Dec 14. That is from ten years of research grade iNaturalist observations, 2016 to 2025, counted as a share of all bird observations so the growth of the app does not skew it.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, formerly Squaw Creek) runs the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge Monthly Habitat, Waterfowl and Eagle Survey Report, last counted on October 6, 2026 (5,872 ducks, no mallards). Illinois Natural History Survey (Forbes Biological Station) runs the INHS Waterfowl Aerial Inventory, Central Mississippi River, last counted on September 23, 2026 (4,275 ducks, 395 mallards). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mingo National Wildlife Refuge runs the Mingo NWR Waterfowl Count, last counted on January 8, 2026 (25,564 ducks, 17,739 mallards). Missouri Department of Conservation runs the Missouri Waterfowl and Habitat Survey (Missouri Waterfowl Counts). Each count links to the agency's own report.

In Missouri, northern pintail climb first, from around the week of Oct 12, and common goldeneye come last, from around the week of Dec 7. That is the week each species' share of bird observations first passes the halfway mark between its July level and its fall high; the species chart shows all of them week by week.

Missouri is in the Mississippi Flyway. The continent's busiest duck corridor, following the Mississippi River system. The freeze watch for Missouri reads forecast lows at the Mississippi Flyway's northern staging areas: Bemidji, Fergus Falls, Green Bay, Alpena, Saginaw Bay.

The 2026 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service breeding survey estimated 33.4 ± 0.6 million birds, 6% below the long-term average of 35.4 ± 0.09 million. That is the fall flight's starting point for every state, Missouri included.

Season dates, zones and bag limits for Missouri are set by the state wildlife agency inside the federal frameworks and are listed on the Missouri waterfowl season page, linked below.