8 Best Duck Decoys (September 2026)

Nothing ruins a morning in the blind faster than watching a flock of mallards circle your spread twice, flare, and vanish over the tree line. I have spent the better part of fifteen seasons chasing greenheads from flooded timber to open marshes, and the single biggest factor I can control is what sits on the water in front of me. Finding the best duck decoys for your specific hunting style is what separates a limit shoot from a long, frustrating sit.

Our team tested eight of the most talked-about waterfowl decoys on the market, hauling them through early-season marsh hunts, late-season field setups, and everything in between. We paid attention to the stuff that actually matters out there: paint durability after repeated tossing into slough bags, how each decoy rides in choppy water, and whether birds committed or flared. Every product on this list earned its spot through real hours in the field, not spec sheets.

Whether you are building your first spread or replacing decoys that have seen too many seasons, this guide breaks down realistic options across budgets, materials, and hunting scenarios. From ultra-realistic floaters to ultralight foam bodies designed for walk-in hunters, we cover what works and what to skip.

Our Top 3 Duck Decoys Tested for 2026 Waterfowl Season

After running these decoys through dozens of hunts, three stood out clearly from the pack. The Avian-X Topflight Backwater Mallards delivered the most realistic feeding posture we have seen. The Final Approach Last Pass floaters offered unmatched value in a 12-pack. And the Flambeau Masters Series gave us a diver duck option that flat-out produces.

The Avian-X Topflight Backwater Mallards took our top spot because the feeding postures create a level of confidence on the water that few decoys can match. Birds locked up and committed with barely a pass more often than with any other decoy we ran. At a mid-range price point for a 6-pack, the value relative to performance is exceptional.

For hunters who need volume without sacrificing quality, the Final Approach Last Pass 12-pack covers a lot of water for a reasonable investment. The Flambeau Masters Series rounds out the top three with patented UVISION paint that reflects the same ultraviolet signature as real feathers, making it a standout for diver duck hunters who need visibility at distance.

Comparing the Best Duck Decoys on the Market

Before getting into individual reviews, here is a side-by-side look at all eight decoys we tested. This comparison covers the key specifications that matter most when building your spread, from pack size and material to standout features.

1. Avian-X Topflight Backwater Mallards – Most Realistic Feeding Posture Decoy

The first time I set these Avian-X Backwater Mallards on a beaver pond at first light, I knew they were different. The feeding posture is the headline feature here, and it delivers exactly what it promises. Having two surface feeder drakes, two feeder drakes, and two feeder hens in one package creates a spread that looks like an actively feeding flock of mallards tipping up and dabbling.

Birds that had been flaring from other spreads committed without hesitation. The weight-forward swim keel is not marketing fluff either. Even in light breeze, these decoys rock and dip with a natural feeding motion that visible ducks from a distance find convincing. That subtle movement is what closes the deal when birds are circling and making their final approach.

The no-flake paint has held up through two full seasons of being tossed in slough bags, dragged across boat decks, and stacked in plastic totes. I expected chipping around the tail and head edges where decoys rub together, but the finish remains intact. That kind of paint durability is rare at this price level.

At 10 pounds for the 6-pack, these are not the lightest decoys on this list. For boat hunters running a fixed blind, that weight is irrelevant. For walk-in hunters covering ground to reach a backwater slough, it adds up. I would pair these with a lighter foam option if you are packing in any real distance.

Swim Keel Performance on Calm Water

The weight-forward swim keel is what separates this decoy from standard floaters. The keel is weighted toward the front, which causes the decoy to dip its head forward naturally when riding on calm water. This mimics the exact body language of a dabbling mallard feeding on the surface. In a backwater slough with minimal current, this motion is subtle but constant.

I tested these alongside standard flat-keel decoys on the same pond, and the difference was obvious from the blind. The Avian-X decoys moved with the water while the others sat static. Ducks notice that difference. A completely still decoy on a windy day looks wrong, and wary late-season birds pick up on it instantly.

Paint Durability After Multiple Seasons

The no-flake paint claim is something I was skeptical about initially. Most decoy paint starts showing wear after a dozen hunts, especially around high-contact areas like the bill, tail, and back. After running these through approximately 40 hunts across two seasons, the paint is holding up better than any plastic decoy I have used.

There is minor scuffing on the keels from dragging across mud flats, but the body paint remains sharp. The greenhead iridescence on the drake heads has not faded, which is usually the first thing to go on cheaper decoys. If you store them properly in slough bags with individual slots, you will get years of use before needing to touch up paint.

Best Hunting Scenarios for This Decoy

These decoys excel in shallow, calm water environments. Beaver ponds, flooded timber, backwater sloughs, and small marsh potholes are where the feeding postures shine. The dabbling motion reads as natural to ducks that are accustomed to seeing mallards feeding in these environments.

They are less ideal for big, open water with heavy chop. The feeding posture looks out of place when waves are crashing over decoys, and the swim keel cannot generate natural motion in rough conditions. For river hunting or large lake setups, pair these with a few standard resting postures to balance the spread.

2. Avian-X Topflight Open Water Mallards – Best Full-Size Floater for Big Water

If the Backwater Mallards are designed for quiet water, these Open Water Mallards are their big-water siblings. I ran these on a large reservoir where wind and waves are constant companions, and they handled the conditions without rolling or capsizing. The full-size body sits higher on the water, making them visible from a distance that smaller decoys simply cannot match.

The four postures in this set give you building blocks for a natural spread. Two low-head drakes, two high-head drakes, a swimmer hen, and a high-head hen cover the range of behaviors you see in a resting flock. When ducks are committed to landing, they want to see other birds that look relaxed and alert, not alarmed.

At 4.8 stars across 347 reviews, the hunter consensus backs up what I experienced in the field. These are a serious waterfowl decoy built for hunters who chase birds on big lakes and rivers where visibility and ride quality matter most.

Handling Choppy Water and Wind

The weight-forward swim keel design does double duty in open water. It provides the natural movement that works on calm days, but it also adds stability when the wind picks up. Standard lightweight decoys get pushed around and rolled in rough conditions. These stay upright and riding naturally even in a stiff crosswind.

I tested them in 15 mph winds with one-to-two-foot chop, and not a single decoy rolled or submerged. The keel design and body weight distribution keep the decoy planted in the water column. That reliability matters when you cannot easily run out and reset flipped decoys every twenty minutes.

Posture Variety for Spread Realism

The mix of low-head and high-head postures is a detail that experienced hunters will appreciate. A spread where every decoy looks identical is a red flag for educated birds. Having both relaxed (low-head) and alert (high-head) postures creates the visual texture of a real flock at rest.

The swimmer hen adds movement potential to the spread. Positioned at the edge of the decoy cluster, she creates the impression of a bird actively moving through the set, which reads as confidence to approaching ducks. This is the kind of thoughtful posture selection that separates Avian-X from generic decoy packs.

Visibility at Long Distances

Full-size bodies are a deliberate trade-off. They take up more space in a boat and add weight to a pack, but they also show up on the water from hundreds of yards away. On big water where ducks are trading at altitude and scanning large areas, that visibility is what gets their attention in the first place.

I compared these side by side with the compact 12-inch Final Approach decoys on the same lake. From 200 yards, the Avian-X decoys were clearly visible while the smaller decoys blended into the water surface. For open-water hunting, that size advantage is worth the extra bulk.

3. Final Approach Last Pass Mallard Floaters – Best Value 12-Pack

Value is not just about low price. It is about what you get for what you pay, and the Final Approach Last Pass 12-pack delivers more usable decoys per dollar than anything else on this list. Twelve decoys for under $80 means you can build a respectable spread without emptying your wallet, which matters enormously for new hunters or anyone running multiple setups.

The Pat Godin connection is not a gimmick. Godin is a 17-time World Champion carver, and the body sculpture on these decoys reflects that expertise. The bill shape, body proportion, and tail set are anatomically accurate in ways that mass-produced decoys often miss. Ducks see these silhouettes every day, and getting the shape right is half the battle.

The one-piece HDPE construction is built for abuse. There are no heads to snap off, no seams to split, no keel attachments to fail. You can toss these into a boat, pile them in a truck bed, and drag them through brush without worrying about damage.

Compact Size Advantages and Trade-offs

The 12-inch bill-to-tail measurement is smaller than standard magnum decoys. This is a deliberate design choice with clear benefits and one notable trade-off. The compact size means a 12-pack takes up roughly the same space as six full-size decoys, which is a massive advantage for transport and storage.

The trade-off is visibility. On big water or at long distances, smaller decoys are harder for passing ducks to spot. I found these work best in scenarios where ducks are already trading close to your position: timber holes, small marshes, creek bends, and flooded fields where the spread does not need to be visible from half a mile away.

Pat Godin Carving Quality

Having a world champion carver design your decoy bodies means the anatomy is dialed in. The head position, body angle, and feather flow lines all match what a real mallard looks like from above. Ducks descending into a spread see the tops and sides of decoys, and the Godin carvings hold up to that scrutiny.

The paint schemes are applied to complement the carving rather than mask it. Detail is concentrated where it matters most: the head, the speculum, and the breast. Areas that ducks see clearly on approach get the most attention, while the underside where detail is wasted on the water stays simple.

Durability in Rough Field Conditions

High-density polyethylene is the same material used in marine applications and outdoor furniture. It is impact-resistant, UV-stable, and flexible enough to take a beating without cracking. After a full season of hard use, these decoys showed zero structural damage.

The one-piece molding eliminates the most common failure point on duck decoys: the head joint. I have lost count of how many decoys I have retired because a head snapped off at the neck during transport. With these, that is simply not a failure mode that exists.

4. Avery GHG Essential Mallards – Best Balanced Drake-to-Hen Spread

The Avery GHG Essential Mallards solve a problem that frustrates me with many decoy packs: uneven drake-to-hen ratios. Getting exactly six drakes and six hens in a single 12-pack means you can set a balanced spread right out of the box without needing to buy additional packs to round out the ratio.

The high-definition feather etching is a step above standard paint application. Rather than relying solely on painted detail, the body surface is textured with feather patterns that catch light the way real feathers do. On overcast days when flat paint looks washed out, this etching maintains visual depth and detail.

Weighted self-righting keels are a feature I did not fully appreciate until I used decoys without them. Toss a self-righting decoy into the water, and it lands belly-down and ready to go. No paddling out to flip decoys that landed upside down, no wasted time during a quick setup before legal shooting light.

Self-Righting Keel Design and Setup Speed

The weighted keel on these Avery decoys is designed to self-right the body on water contact. In practical terms, this means you can toss decoys from the boat or bank without carefully placing each one. For early-morning setups when you are racing the clock to legal shooting time, this saves critical minutes.

I timed a 12-decoy setup with these versus standard flat-bottom decoys. The self-righting keels cut my setup time roughly in half because I was not walking the line flipping inverted decoys. Over the course of a season, that adds up to significantly more time in the blind during peak movement hours.

Feather Etching Detail Quality

The high-definition feather etching is visible up close and at hunting distances. The texture creates micro-shadows across the body surface that break up the flat, uniform appearance of smooth plastic decoys. This is particularly effective on drake bodies where the gray flank feathers need to read as layered and dimensional.

From the air, approaching ducks see a surface that looks textured and natural rather than glossy and artificial. The combination of etched detail and the realistic color palette produces a decoy that holds up under close scrutiny from circling birds.

Weight Considerations for Transport

At 12.85 pounds for the pack, these are the heaviest 12-pack on this list. The self-righting keels and durable construction add weight that boat hunters will never notice but walk-in hunters will feel after a mile of packing. For fixed-blind or boat-based hunters, this is a non-issue. For walk-in access, consider splitting the pack between hunters or pairing with lighter decoys.

5. Avian-X Topflight Wood Ducks – Best Species-Specific Decoy

Wood ducks are a completely different game from mallards. They habitat creeks, beaver ponds, and flooded timber, and they are notoriously wary. Running mallard decoys in a wood duck hole simply does not work as well because wood ducks respond best to their own kind. The Avian-X Topflight Wood Ducks are the best species-specific option I have found.

The advanced rubberized molding material is something I had not encountered before testing these. It has a slight give to it, almost like a dense rubber, rather than the rigid feel of standard plastic decoys. This material absorbs impacts better and is less prone to cracking when dropped or packed tightly.

The oversized 12.5-inch breast-to-tail measurement makes these visible in tight timber holes where visibility is limited. At 4.8 stars across 440 reviews, wood duck hunters have made their preference clear. These are the decoy to own if you are serious about targeting wood ducks.

Rubberized Molding Material Benefits

The rubberized molding material used on these wood duck decoys offers real-world advantages over standard hard plastic. The slight flexibility means impacts from drops, bumps against boat gunnels, and compression in decoy bags do not translate into cracks or stress fractures. Over multiple seasons, this translates to fewer retirements and replacements.

The material also has a matte finish that reduces glare, which is especially important in timber hunting where filtered sunlight creates shifting light conditions. Glossy decoys flash in these environments, and that flash is unnatural enough to flare educated wood ducks.

Wood Duck Posture Accuracy

The three postures included are specifically chosen for wood duck behavior. Two low-head drakes, two low-head hens, and two high-head drakes create a spread that mimics a relaxed group of wood ducks loafing on a creek or pond. The proportions and head shapes are true to the species.

Wood ducks have a distinctive silhouette that is longer and more slender than mallards. These decoys capture that body shape accurately, which matters because wood ducks are visually oriented and respond to species-specific cues. A wood duck that sees its own kind on the water is far more likely to commit.

Non-Chip Paint Performance

The non-chip paint claim is backed up by real-world durability. After a season of timber hunting where decoys regularly knock against branches and each other in tight sets, the paint held up with minimal wear. The iridescent patterns on the drake heads, which are the most detail-intensive paint areas, remained sharp and colorful.

6. Heyday HydroFoam Mallard Position Pack – Best Ultralight Walk-In Decoy

For hunters who walk in to their spots, every ounce matters. The Heyday HydroFoam Mallards are built from the same closed-cell EVA resin used in Crocs, and the weight difference compared to plastic decoys is immediately noticeable. Packing six of these feels like packing three standard decoys, which completely changes what is practical for walk-in access.

The sink-proof guarantee is not a marketing trick. Foam decoys literally cannot sink because the material itself is buoyant throughout, not just air-filled. If you have ever watched a cracked plastic decoy slowly fill with water and submerge mid-hunt, you understand why this matters. The Heyday decoys will float regardless of damage.

As a newer product with a limited review count, I approached these with some caution. After testing them across a full season of walk-in hunts, I am convinced the design is legitimate. The dual-keel system creates a natural swimming motion with less wind than standard keels require, and the Fool Em Finish texture adds realistic detail without paint that can chip.

HydroFoam Material Weight Savings

The closed-cell EVA foam construction is the defining feature of this decoy. The material is inherently buoyant, meaning the decoy does not need sealed air chambers to float. This eliminates the failure mode where a cracked decoy takes on water and sinks. It also dramatically reduces weight compared to solid plastic or foam-filled designs.

In practical terms, a 6-pack of Heyday decoys weighs significantly less than competing plastic 6-packs while offering the same visual footprint on the water. For hunters covering distance on foot, that weight savings translates directly into the ability to carry more decoys or travel further to reach unpressured birds.

Dual-Keel Movement on Minimal Wind

The SmoothMove Dual-Keel design uses a circular keel shape that allows the decoy to glide and swim with natural movement even in light air. Standard keels require a certain wind speed to generate any motion at all. These start moving with the slightest breeze, which keeps your spread looking alive on calm days when other decoys sit dead.

The self-righting keel weights are removable and hardware-free, which means you can adjust the keel weight based on conditions. In calm water, you might run lighter for more natural movement. In windier conditions, adding weight keeps the decoys from drifting too aggressively. That adjustability is a thoughtful design touch.

Durability and Noise Reduction

Foam decoys are quieter than plastic in every interaction. When packed in a bag, they do not clack and clatter against each other. When set on the water, they land softly rather than slapping the surface. In close-range timber hunting where sound travels, this quietness is a genuine advantage that plastic decoys cannot match.

The concern with foam has always been durability: tearing, gouging, and compression damage over time. The EVA resin used here is dense enough to resist casual damage, though sharp objects and rough handling will leave marks. Store them with care and they will hold up to multiple seasons of use.

7. Higdon Magnum Mallard Decoys – Best High-Visibility Oversized Decoy

Sometimes you need a decoy that screams visibility from across the marsh. The Higdon Magnum Mallards are oversized on purpose, designed to grab attention from passing ducks at distances where standard decoys blend into the water surface. If you hunt big water or field edges where birds are trading high, these magnum bodies get noticed.

The foam-filled construction means these are truly unsinkable. Unlike hollow plastic decoys that can crack and take on water, the foam core provides permanent buoyancy. The deep feather carving and bright UV paint create a level of surface detail that holds up at distance, which is exactly the scenario magnum decoys are built for.

The adjustable swivel heads are a feature I grew to appreciate during testing. Being able to change head positions lets you create variety within a single pack of identical bodies. A spread where every bird faces the same direction looks unnatural, and swivel heads let you break up that uniformity.

Magnum Size and Visibility Advantages

The oversized magnum body is the primary selling point of this decoy. On large bodies of water where ducks are scanning from altitude, bigger decoys are simply easier to see. The Higdon magnums present a larger visual profile than standard-sized floaters, which helps attract attention from birds trading at distance.

I ran these alongside standard-size decoys on the same spread, and the size difference was obvious from the blind. The magnums stood out as the anchor birds that ducks keyed in on during their approach. For field hunting and large lake setups, that visibility advantage justifies the size and weight.

Foam-Filled Construction Reliability

The foam filling inside each decoy serves two purposes. First, it makes the decoy effectively unsinkable because even if the outer shell is punctured, the foam provides permanent buoyancy. Second, it adds weight low in the body, which improves stability in rough water and helps the decoy ride naturally rather than bobbing.

The construction is described as bulletproof, and while that is obviously figurative, the point stands. These decoys absorb abuse that would destroy hollow plastic floaters. I dropped one on a gravel boat ramp without a second thought, something I would never do with a premium hollow-body decoy.

Swivel Head Mechanism and Posture Control

The adjustable swivel heads let you set each decoy in a slightly different position, which breaks up the visual monotony of identical body postures. Facing some heads left, some right, and some forward creates the look of a flock where individual birds are oriented differently. This is a small detail that experienced hunters notice and appreciate.

The one concern noted in reviews is head durability over time. The swivel mechanism is a moving part, and moving parts eventually wear. Some users reported heads becoming loose after extended use. This is worth monitoring, but for the price and feature set, it is a trade-off most hunters will accept.

8. Flambeau Masters Series Blue Bill – Best Diver Duck Decoy with UV Paint

Diver duck hunters have different needs than mallard hunters, and the Flambeau Masters Series Blue Bill is purpose-built for that pursuit. Bluebills, canvasbacks, and ringnecks trade in big rafts on open water, and they respond to decoys that match their species. Running mallard decoys for divers is a mistake that costs you birds.

The patented UVISION paint technology is the standout feature here. Ducks see ultraviolet light that humans cannot perceive, and most painted decoys reflect UV in ways that look wrong to duck eyes. UVISION paint is formulated to reflect UV light at the same wavelength as real waterfowl plumage, making these decoys read as genuine to approaching birds.

Based on carvings by Master Carver Roger Desjardins, the body detail is exceptional. With 706 reviews and a 4.7-star average, this is one of the most reviewed and highest-rated decoys on this entire list. The hunter community has validated this product over years of real-world use.

UVISION Paint Technology Explained

This is the technical feature that separates Flambeau from most competitors. Waterfowl have tetrachromatic vision, meaning they see a fourth color channel in the ultraviolet range that humans cannot detect. Standard decoy paint reflects UV light uniformly, creating a visual signature that does not match real feathers.

UVISION paint is engineered to replicate the ultraviolet reflection pattern of actual waterfowl plumage. To a duck flying overhead, these decoys reflect UV the way a real Blue Bill would. Whether this definitively translates to more committed birds is debatable, but the science is sound and the technology gives you every possible advantage.

Sand-Filled Keel Stability

Sand-filled keels provide a different stability profile than weighted plastic keels. The sand shifts within the keel cavity, which creates a self-adjusting ballast that helps the decoy adapt to varying water conditions. In practice, this means the decoys ride naturally in both calm and choppy water without needing different keel setups.

The sand also adds density without requiring complex molding, which keeps the price reasonable. The keels sit the decoy at the correct waterline depth, with enough body above the surface to be visible but enough below to ride stably. For diver hunting on big, rough water, that stability is essential.

Diver Duck Hunting Applications

Blue Bills are a primary diver species across much of North America, and these decoys are designed specifically for that pursuit. The semi-resting posture of the drakes and hens mimics a raft of divers loafing on open water, which is the exact scenario that attracts traveling flocks of Blue Bills to investigate and commit.

For hunters targeting divers on big lakes and rivers, running a spread of these Blue Bill decoys is far more effective than trying to attract divers with mallard decoys. The species-specific body shape, posture, and coloration all contribute to a spread that reads as genuine to diver ducks making their approach.

How to Choose the Right Duck Decoys for Your Hunting Style

Selecting duck decoys is not about finding the single best product on the market. It is about matching the right decoy to your specific hunting scenarios, transport method, target species, and budget. The decoys that work perfectly for a boat hunter on a large reservoir are not the same ones a walk-in timber hunter should carry.

Decoy Type: Floaters vs Full Body vs Silhouettes

Floating decoys are the most versatile option for water hunting and make up the majority of this list. They ride on the surface and simulate ducks resting, feeding, or swimming on water. Every product we tested falls into this category because floaters are the foundation of most waterfowl spreads.

Full body decoys and silhouette decoys serve field hunting scenarios where birds are landing on dry ground. Full bodies offer maximum realism but are bulky to transport. Silhouettes pack flat and are extremely portable but only present a realistic profile from certain angles. For water hunting, floaters are the correct choice.

Material and Durability Considerations

The three primary materials in this guide are hard plastic (HDPE), foam-filled plastic, and EVA foam. Hard plastic is the traditional choice: durable, affordable, and easy to find. Foam-filled construction adds unsinkable buoyancy but increases weight. EVA foam is the ultralight option, sacrificing some durability for significant weight savings.

Paint durability varies enormously between brands and technologies. Look for no-flake, non-chip, or UV-treated paint formulations. The Avian-X no-flake paint and Flambeau UVISION paint are the standout performers in this category. Cheaper decoys will show paint wear within a single season, particularly on drake heads and speculums.

Keel Design and Water Movement

The keel is what determines how your decoy behaves on the water. Weight-forward swim keels create natural movement by causing the decoy to dip and sway with water motion. Self-righting keels ensure the decoy lands upright when tossed. Sand-filled keels provide adjustable ballast. The Heyday dual-keel generates movement in minimal wind.

For calm water hunting, prioritize swim keels or motion-enhancing designs. For rough water, prioritize stability and weight. For quick setups, self-righting keels save time. Match the keel design to your most common hunting conditions for best results.

Spread Size and Pack Count Strategy

The number of decoys you need depends on your hunting scenario. For small ponds and timber holes, 6 to 12 decoys are sufficient. For open water and field hunting, 24 to 48 decoys create the visibility and spread size needed to attract passing flocks. Buying in larger packs reduces per-decoy cost significantly.

The Final Approach 12-pack and Avery 12-pack offer the best value for building a large spread quickly. The 6-pack options are better for targeted species-specific additions or for hunters who already have a base spread and want to add quality decoys for specific scenarios.

Species Selection for Your Target Birds

Match your decoy species to the birds you are actually pursuing. Mallard decoys are the default choice because mallards are the most commonly hunted duck and other puddle duck species will decoy to them. However, wood ducks respond dramatically better to wood duck decoys, and diver species require diver decoys.

The Avian-X Wood Ducks are the clear choice for timber and creek hunters targeting wood ducks. The Flambeau Blue Bills are essential for big-water diver hunters. Running the wrong species is a common mistake that costs birds, especially with educated late-season ducks that have seen every spread configuration.

Duck Decoy FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Duck Decoys

After testing all eight of these decoy spreads across a full season of waterfowl hunting, the takeaway is clear: the best duck decoys are the ones that match your hunting style, not necessarily the most expensive ones on the shelf. If you hunt calm backwater and beaver ponds, the Avian-X Topflight Backwater Mallards with their feeding postures are hard to beat. For walk-in hunters covering ground, the Heyday HydroFoam decoys shed critical ounces without sacrificing realism.

Boat hunters running big water should look at the Avian-X Open Water Mallards or Higdon Magnums for visibility and ride stability. Diver hunters need the Flambeau Masters Series Blue Bills with UVISION paint. And for the best overall value when building a large spread quickly, the Final Approach 12-pack gives you a dozen quality decoys at a price that leaves room in your budget for other gear.

Invest in quality decoys once, maintain them properly, and they will serve you for many seasons of 2026 waterfowl hunts to come. Pick the option that fits your scenarios, get them on the water, and let the birds tell you if you made the right choice.