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Among the most handsome of all ducks, the northern pintail (Anas acuta) is recognized by its slender build, long, elegant neck and elongated, spiky central tail feathers, a feature that gives rise to its common name. A graceful waterbird with long, narrow wings, during the breeding season the male northern pintail has a chocolate-brown head, white underparts and a white neck, with a thin, white line extending up the back of the neck, and a long, black tail bordered by yellowish-tan patches. The upper back and sides are grey, the lower back feathers are black with pale edges, and the rear of the wing is bronze-greenish, with a black band and white rear edge. The eyes are dark brown and the legs are grey. At other times of the year, the male northern pintail has duller, brownish plumage, with fine, dark streaks on the neck and broad, dark barring on the upper-parts. The female northern pintail lacks the colorful plumage of the male, with largely brown upper-parts, a tan crown and face, whitish underparts, and a bronze-greenish band on the rear of the wing, as well as bluish-grey legs and a dull black bill.
Walking or running with a slight waddle, the northern pintail is actually quite agile on land, but is most graceful and acrobatic in flight. It is able to achieve great speeds while flying, earning the species the nickname ‘greyhound of the air’. The northern pintail is a rather quiet bird, but the male may emit a mellow, whistled “kwee” or “kwee-hee”, while the female produces a hoarse, muffled “quack”.
Loved the golden leaves in the background which provided a contrast with the beautiful colours of this drake Mallard.
The yellow-billed teal (Anas flavirostris) is a South American species of duck. Like other teals, it belongs to the diverse genus Anas; more precisely it is one of the "true" teals of subgenus Nettion. It occurs in Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, and Brazil. It has also established itself in South Georgia, where it was first recorded breeding in 1971, and has been recorded as far east as Tristan da Cunha. It inhabits freshwater wetlands, preferring palustrine habitat to rivers. Considering its wide range and local abundance, it is not considered threatened by the IUCN.
Description
The namesake bill is bright yellow with a black tip and a black band along the ridge of the culmen. The species is somewhat similar to the larger yellow-billed pintail, but has a darker head, shorter neck and plain grayish sides.
Taxonomy
Mitochondrial DNA sequence data is most similar to that of the very different-looking green-winged teal. Apart from the mystifying relationship with the red-and-green-headed teals, it altogether most resembles the Indian Ocean radiation of teals. However, the yellow-billed teal's unicolored underside and namesake bill are unique, as is to be expected from a species that evolved half a world apart from Bernier's or the grey teal.
This species is also unique among its relatives in some aspects of its post-copulation behavior: After dismounting, the drakes stretch themselves up high and swim around and alongside the females.
Traditionally, there are 2 subspecies:
Sharp-winged teal, Anas flavirostris oxyptera (Meyen, 1834) – highlands of central Peru to northern Chile and Argentina.
Chilean teal, Anas flavirostris flavirostris (Vieillot, 1816) – southern South America as far north as southern Brazil and northern Argentina. Also in the Falkland Islands.
Previously, this species and the Andean teal formed the superspecies speckled teal, but increasingly taxonomists consider the two species distinct.
'Chalk and cheese'.
A pair of beautiful Gadwall, Anus strepera dabbling ducks in close contact, I'd love to know what he was saying to her? North Lincolnshire. The male is on the left showing his finely barred and freckled plumage and black bill in total contrast. to the female, a fine example of sexual dimorphism. Fewer than 2,000 pairs of Gadwall nest in the UK, but large numbers winter here.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
Gadwall Notes and Information:
The Gadwall is a dabbling duck, feeding at the surface of shallow water by 'upending' - putting its head down and its bottom up! Only a small number of Gadwall nest in the UK, but large numbers winter here.
Species information:
Category : Waterfowl
Statistics:
Length: 48-54cm
Wingspan: 90cm
Weight: 700-830g
Average lifespan: 4 years
Conservation status:
Classified in the UK as Amber under the Birds of Conservation Concern 4: the Red List for Birds (2015). Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.
When to see : January to December
About:
A fairly common dabbling duck found throughout the year, the gadwall is only a little smaller than a Mallard. It nests in small numbers in the UK, on freshwater lakes with lots of vegetation, but can be seen in large numbers in winter at reservoirs, lakes, flooded gravel pits and coastal wetlands.
How to identify:
Male Gadwalls are a grey-brown colour with a black rear end. Both males and females can be distinguished by the white patches on their wings.
Distribution:
Mainly found in south and eastern England, but can be seen anywhere.
Habitats:
FreshwaterCoastalWetlands
Did you know?
Gadwall can sometimes be seen following coot around. After the a coot has dived down to pick waterweed, the opportunistic Gadwall will grab some for itself TWT Notes.
(Anus platyrhynchos)
Not so wild, this mallard swam out of Loch Lomond and waddled over to me, obviously expecting a tasty treat. Thank goodness I had visited the RSPB shop...dinner's on me, Ducky!
'Head On'. The colourful Drake Mallard breaking flight, West Yorkshire.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
There are six hundred and twenty species of birds in the UK ...This little photogenic dabbling duck chap Mr Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) with his beautiful colours always shows up and never fails to disappoint me. The name Mallard originally referred to any wild drake.
Mallard
The expression “water off a duck’s back” is a reminder of the waterproof qualities of the feathers. They are kept waterproof by regular applications of oil from the preen gland.
Scoring a duck in cricket reflects the fact that the 0 on the score sheet resembles the shape of a duck’s egg.
Mallard remain a popular sporting bird: they can be shot inland from 1 September to 31 January.
Ducklings are almost exclusively insect eaters, only turning to a mainly vegetarian diet as they get older.
Historically, commercial duck decoys caught thousands of mallard every winter, with most of the birds caught being sent to Leadenhall Market.
A duck doesn’t feed her brood, as they are capable of finding their own food as soon as they leave the nest.
Once all the eggs have hatched the duck leads the brood away to water. They never return to the nest.
A typical clutch is from nine to 13 eggs, but as many as 18, laid by the same duck, have been recorded.
Incubation takes 27-28 days, and all the eggs hatch within the same 24-hour period.
During the summer moult the drake loses his fine feathers and looks very much like the duck.
Ducks will lay their eggs in a wide variety of sites, from grassy riverbanks to the tops of tower blocks. The downy young can survive jumps from great heights.
The mallard displays classic sexual dimorphism, which means that the drake’s plumage is quite unlike that of the duck’s.
Though they will pair up in the autumn, the drake only remains with his partner until she starts incubating, and has nothing to do with rearing the ducklings.
The Victorians knew the mallard simply as the wild duck.
Only the female, or duck, makes the familiar quacking. The drake’s call is a much softer and quieter note.
Though northern populations are migratory, European mallard rarely move south of the Mediterranean.
Mallard are widespread throughout Europe and Asia, occurring as far east as Japan, and they can also be found throughout much of North America.
Mallard are one of the few species of birds to have been successfully domesticated: the mallard is the ancestor of such breeds as the Aylesbury, Khaki Campbell, Indian Runner, Silver Appleyard and Rouen.
The mallard’s success is due to its adaptability, for it is a much at home on a town pond as it is on a Highland loch.
Both sexes become completely flightless during the summer moult.
Though generally regarded as the classic surface-feeding duck, up-ending in shallow water, they will dive for their food too if they need to. Notes Living With Birds.
