| MadSci Network: Zoology |
The following sites provided a tremendous amount of information concerning
ducks.
Hope you enjoy the information.
http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Farm/ducks.html
http://www.utm.edu/departments/ed/cece/ducks.shtml
Ducks belong to the sub family Anatinae. Not only is this grouping the largest
group of waterfowl it is also the most diverse.
The characteristics generally held in common by ducks when compared to geese and
swans are the small body size, shorter
necks, narrower wings which are more pointed, and wing beats which are more
rapid.
Frequently the males and females are colored differently with the male having
the brighter plumage of the two. There are two
body molts per molting cycle. The most significant is the eclipse which is the
cycle that takes place during the end of the
breeding season that results in males and females looking almost identical.
Another characteristic is the speculum which is
produced by the bright metallic feathering of the secondary feathers. There are
also voice differences between the male and
the female. The female incubates and rears the young. More information can be
found from the sources in the reference list at
the bottom of this web page.
DABBLING DUCKS
AMERICAN BLACK
Scientific Name: Anas rubripes
AMERICAN BLACK
Look For
Mallard-size, mottled, dark black-brown; male has greener beak
than female and is slightly larger
Nesting Area
West coast of Hudson Bay, Labrador south to Iowa, Illinois, Ohio,
and North Carolina
Wintering Area
Wisconsin south to northern Florida and central Texas
Nest Site
Ground boxes, weeded areas; not guarded by male
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
April until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size
10 to 12 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 28 days
LAYSAN TEAL (ENDANGERED)
Scientific Name: Anas platyrhyncos laysanensis
LAYSAN TEAL
Look For
Male has dark head and neck, white ring around the eye, resembles
female mallard, but more
reddish-brown, green and black speculum; female similar to male
with brown speculum
Nesting Area
Laysan Island
Wintering Area
Not Applicable
Nest Site
On the ground under Chenopodium or Scaerola bushes
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
Early May until June
Clutch Size
5 to 6 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 26 to 28 days
MALLARD
Scientific Name: Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos
MALLARD
Look For
Male has metallic green head and neck separated from the
purplish-brown breast by a white ring;
females are mottled, buffy-brown in color with a pale eye-brow
and a dark stripe through the eye
Nesting Area
Throughout the Northern Hemisphere in places where climatic
conditions are not too severe
Wintering Area
Amost to the Tropic of Cancer and in North Africa as far south as
the northern Sudan
Nest Site
Ground boxes, weeded areas where the nest is concealed beneath
the undergrowth, usually near water;
not guarded by male
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
April until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size
10 to 12 buffish-green eggs
Incubation
Approximately 28 days
PERCHING DUCKS
MANDARIN
Scientific Name: Aix galericulata
MANDARIN
Look For
Males have triangular orange feathers over back; females are
mottled light brown with eye over a white
line
Nesting Area
Manchuria, Northeastern China, and Japan
Wintering Area
Sedentary in Japan, South of Yangtze in China
Nest Site
Nests on the ground in the vegetation or in old tree nests of
other species
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
April and May in nesting area and Chenoa
Clutch Size
9 to 12 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 28 to 30 days
MANED GOOSE
Scientific Name: Chenonetta jubata
MANED GOOSE
Look For
Males with dark brown head and neck, while back, rump, tail, and
belly are black, with breast and sides
grayish; females head and neck are pale brown with white lines
above and below the eye
Nesting Area
Australia and Tasmania
Wintering Area
Not Applicable
Nest Site
Nests are in suitable tree holes
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of second year
When
January to March in New South Wales, but may be found at any time
during the year, August to
September is often the peak inland
Clutch Size
9 to 11 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 28 days
WOOD DUCK
Scientific Name: Aix sponsa
WOOD DUCK
FEMALE WOOD DUCK ON NEST
Look For
Males with green head crest and gray sides, females are mottled,
medium brown, white line runs toward
eye, eye with a white circle around it
Nesting Area
Virtually the entire eastern United States; has been encouraged
by man-made nest boxes placed near
water
Wintering Area
Southern half of range
Nest Site
Upright boxes and holes in trees made by natural decay or by
woodpeckers; nest is loosely guarded by
male when female is inside
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
Late March until June in the nesting area and at Chenoa
Clutch Size
9 to 14 eggs (two clutches at Chenoa at 10 average)
Incubation
Approximately 31 to 35 days
POCHARD DUCKS
CANVAS BACK
Scientific Name: Aythya valisineria
CANVAS BACK
Look For
Diving duck; males have redish brown head, light gray sides;
female is light brown with a mottled
appearance
Nesting Area
Central Alaska south to central Oregon and northern Utah, New
Mexico, and southern Nebraska
Wintering Area
Chesapeake Bay and San Fransico Bay
Nest Site
Bulky well-concealed nest usually amongst reeds or rushes
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
Second week of May
Clutch Size
7 to 10 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 23 to 29 days
RED-CRESTED
Scientific Name: Netta rufina
RED-CRESTED
Look For
Diving duck; males have red head, light gray sides, neck and
breast are black, bill is bright red; female
has dark brown head and nape with whitish cheeks and foreneck
Nesting Area
Small numbers in Denmark, Germany, Rumania, Netherlands, and
Czechoslovakia; more in France,
Spain, and USSR
Wintering Area
South to Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas
Nest Site
On islands or in dense vegetation near water's edge and with a
tunnel approach; constructed of grass and
leaves
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
May and June in the nesting area
Clutch Size
6 to 14 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 26 to 28 days
RING-BILLED
Scientific Name: Aythya collaris
RING-BILLED
Look For
Diving duck; males have black head, light gray sides, white
stripes on beak; female is chocolate brown,
white cheeks and base of bill
Nesting Area
Entire Northern boundary of United States to Nova Scotia,
Labrador, British Columbia and Great Slave
Lake
Wintering Area
Entire southern United States
Nest Site
Among weeds near water, ground boxes, or hole in lake bank
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
May and June in the nesting area
Clutch Size
6 to 14 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 26 to 27 days
ROSY-BILLED
Scientific Name: Netta peposaca
ROSY-BILLED
Look For
Diving duck; male has black head, gray sides, and bright red
beak; female is medium brown with bluish
gray beak
Nesting Area
Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina
Wintering Area
Not Applicable
Nest Site
Ground boxes or in tall weeds which serve as canopy to shade and
hide nest
Initial Nest
During spring-summer of first year
When
October until December in the nesting area, June until July at
Chenoa
Clutch Size
Up to 14 eggs
Incubation
Approximately 23 to 25 days
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Zoology.