Anas platyrhynchos or Anas rubripes
Hello...
Once more I'm here to introduce you another species that are around us in this beautiful planet. As you can see, in the picture, I will talk about a duck, that I photograph in the beautiful island of Azores.
Well lots of opinions came by to identify this duck, but still unable to identify for sure. Some say that it is a Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) some say that it is a Anas rubripes (Black Duck), and even a Anas fulvigula (Mottled Duck). The most consistence opinion is that it is a hybrid between Black Duck and MAllard, never the less, it it for sure a very nice animal.
The mallard is the most common duck in North America. It is easy to tell the males from the female mallards. Most male mallards have grayish or brownish feathers, a green colored head, and a purple breast. On the other hand, the female is only brown and white and is maller than the male. The length of the normal mallard is about 50-60 cm. Mallards molt in late spring or early summer. The males molt earlier than the females. The mallard duck is found mostly in North America and Northern Central America. They nest under boulders, in tree holes, in the crotch of trees, or in open areas.
The sooty-brown American Black Duck Anas rubripes is a common sight in ponds and marshes in eastern Canada. It is the only common duck in eastern North America in which the sexes are almost identical in appearance. Male and female American Black Ducks resemble the female Mallard in size and appearance. Their brown bodies are darker than the MallardÃ’s, however, and lack the MallardÃ’s whitish outer tail-feathers and prominent white wing bars. The American Black DuckÃ’s head and neck are a lighter brown than its torso, and there is a beautiful purplish-blue patch, or speculum, on the wing. In flight, the American Black Duck is identifiable by the flash of its white underwings.
The Mallard Duck To breed, the male attracts the female mate by ruffling his bright feathers. But the pair usually does not stay together for long. The male mallard, or drake, leaves the female when she begins incubation and forms a group with other males. Nine to thirteen eggs are laid at daily intervals. Incubation begins when the clutch is complete and lasts for 27 to 28 days. The ducklings all hatch within 24 hours, mostly during the day. Once they are hatched they are led to water. Mallards mature quickly and may breed under 12 months of age. Although mallard ducks have been known to live as long as sixteen years of age, most of them only live for one or two years.
Adult black ducks begin selecting a mate in the fall, and probably most are paired by mid-December. Immatures begin pairing somewhat later, but almost all American Black Ducks arrive paired at the breeding grounds in the spring. The female selects the nest site, usually in a clump of grass, under a shrub or tree, or in a hole or fork in a tree, near the ground. She digs a scrape (nest) using both feet and her bill, then lines it with grasses, leaves, and other dry plant material. She plucks down, or fine feathers, from her body and adds it to the nest during the approximately one- to two-week period when she is laying her seven to 12 (nine on average) creamy white, or sometimes greenish-buff, eggs.
During the summer, mallards spend much time asleep on water banks. The mallard has only three defenses- swimming, flying, and camouflage, and it is prey to large mammals. Mallards have no defense against humans who are their biggest enemy. Many are killed by oil spills and pesticides.
As you can see this animal is very sensible and her life denpend on how we manedge the world, so think twice when you make something stupid on the envirement.This sweet animal may not surveive at you insanity.
Once more I'm here to introduce you another species that are around us in this beautiful planet. As you can see, in the picture, I will talk about a duck, that I photograph in the beautiful island of Azores.
Well lots of opinions came by to identify this duck, but still unable to identify for sure. Some say that it is a Anas platyrhynchos (Mallard) some say that it is a Anas rubripes (Black Duck), and even a Anas fulvigula (Mottled Duck). The most consistence opinion is that it is a hybrid between Black Duck and MAllard, never the less, it it for sure a very nice animal.
The mallard is the most common duck in North America. It is easy to tell the males from the female mallards. Most male mallards have grayish or brownish feathers, a green colored head, and a purple breast. On the other hand, the female is only brown and white and is maller than the male. The length of the normal mallard is about 50-60 cm. Mallards molt in late spring or early summer. The males molt earlier than the females. The mallard duck is found mostly in North America and Northern Central America. They nest under boulders, in tree holes, in the crotch of trees, or in open areas.
The sooty-brown American Black Duck Anas rubripes is a common sight in ponds and marshes in eastern Canada. It is the only common duck in eastern North America in which the sexes are almost identical in appearance. Male and female American Black Ducks resemble the female Mallard in size and appearance. Their brown bodies are darker than the MallardÃ’s, however, and lack the MallardÃ’s whitish outer tail-feathers and prominent white wing bars. The American Black DuckÃ’s head and neck are a lighter brown than its torso, and there is a beautiful purplish-blue patch, or speculum, on the wing. In flight, the American Black Duck is identifiable by the flash of its white underwings.
The Mallard Duck To breed, the male attracts the female mate by ruffling his bright feathers. But the pair usually does not stay together for long. The male mallard, or drake, leaves the female when she begins incubation and forms a group with other males. Nine to thirteen eggs are laid at daily intervals. Incubation begins when the clutch is complete and lasts for 27 to 28 days. The ducklings all hatch within 24 hours, mostly during the day. Once they are hatched they are led to water. Mallards mature quickly and may breed under 12 months of age. Although mallard ducks have been known to live as long as sixteen years of age, most of them only live for one or two years.
Adult black ducks begin selecting a mate in the fall, and probably most are paired by mid-December. Immatures begin pairing somewhat later, but almost all American Black Ducks arrive paired at the breeding grounds in the spring. The female selects the nest site, usually in a clump of grass, under a shrub or tree, or in a hole or fork in a tree, near the ground. She digs a scrape (nest) using both feet and her bill, then lines it with grasses, leaves, and other dry plant material. She plucks down, or fine feathers, from her body and adds it to the nest during the approximately one- to two-week period when she is laying her seven to 12 (nine on average) creamy white, or sometimes greenish-buff, eggs.
During the summer, mallards spend much time asleep on water banks. The mallard has only three defenses- swimming, flying, and camouflage, and it is prey to large mammals. Mallards have no defense against humans who are their biggest enemy. Many are killed by oil spills and pesticides.
As you can see this animal is very sensible and her life denpend on how we manedge the world, so think twice when you make something stupid on the envirement.This sweet animal may not surveive at you insanity.
posted by vitlated at 12:44:00 PM
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