Ducks
INDEX
DUCK FEATURES
BAHAMIAN DUCKS
DUCKS OF ARDASTRA
DUCK FEATURES
Ducks are found throughout the world in a variety of water habitats. Some ducks live by the sea and dive for fish; others live on small freshwater ponds and eat microscopic organisms. All ducks however have many similar features and adaptations used to survive in their watery habitats.
The bills of ducks are usually long and flat. They use their bills in many different ways.
Dabbling ducks are filter feeders and strain out various food items such as seeds, water plants, and small animals.
Diving ducks, normally found in freshwater, swim under the water and pursue larger food items like fish.
The feathers of ducks are waterproofed by a protective oil that is produced at the base of the tail and the duck spreads this oil to the rest of the feathers. This procedure is called preening and this must be done regularly to straighten and re-oil their feathers.
In most duck species the males’ feathers are brighter and more colourful. Male feathers are vivid for a variety of reasons.
- More colourful feathers help males stand out to attract females.
- Males also use brilliant feathers, combined with lots of noise and fluttering, to distract predators away from females. Females are usually a shade of brown to help camoflauge (blend) in with ground nests.
Their webbed feet are excellent for paddling and they can streamline their wings to dive underwater. Ducks are often clumsy on land and due to the fact that their legs are placed far back on their body. This gives them more power in the water but results in a unique waddle on land.
Ducks are able to float on top of the water by trapping air within sacs inside their bodies. When a duck dives underwater, it releases air from the sacs.
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BAHAMIAN DUCKS
Many duck species can be found in the Bahamas, particularly during the winter months. The ducks that are year round residents in the Bahamas and are the most commonly known are the:
- White-cheeked Bahama Pintailed ducks - Threatened Species
- West Indian-whistling ducks - Threatened Species
White-cheeked Bahama Pintailed ducks (Anas bahamensis)
There are three sub-species for this duck, collectively they are Bahama Pintails, but they are found in many parts of the world. The different sub-species vary in size and brightness of the feathers.
- The Lesser Bahama pintail (Anas bahamensis bahamensis) - is native to the West Indies, Northern South America and is often spotted in the Southern United States. This is the sub-species that is native to the Bahamas.
- The Greater Bahama pintail (Anas bahamensis rubrirostris) - is found in South America, south of the equator. This is the largest of the sub-species.
- The Galapagos pintail (Anas bahamensis galapagensis) - is restricted to the Galapagos Islands. This is the smallest of the sub-species.
The Lesser Bahama pintail was once quite common in its native areas but now it is a threatened species due to habitat destruction, hunting and predation by introduced species, such as rats, cats, racoons, pigs, dogs and mongoose throughout most of the Caribbean islands. Today, it
There are several Bahama pintails that live in the ponds of Ardastra gardens. Some of these are wild birds that flew in one day and never left and some were brought in to Ardastra as chicks that lost their parents and were hand raised by the Ardastra staff. In the wild these birds are often very shy but many of the pintails in Ardastra are very used to people and visitors definately get to see these birds closer in Ardastra than anywhere else.
West Indian whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna arborea)
This large goose-like duck belongs to a family of unique ducks known as the whistling ducks, named for the sounds they make. This species is the largest of all the whistling ducks but it also is one of the rarest. They were once found throughout the whole of the west indies but today they are only found in the Bahamas, Cuba and a couple of islands in the Caribbean and even then they are rare. Their populations have declined due to hunting, development and introduced species.
The West Indian Whistling-duck is a nocturnal bird that mainly feeds on seeds, particularly grass seeds, nuts and fruits.
DUCKS OF ARDASTRA
Ardastra gardens has several different kinds of ducks.
White-faced whistling duck (Dendrocygna viduata)
There are eight species of whistling duck. The White-faced whistling duck, also known as the White-faced tree duck, is actually named for its facial color. They range widely throughout Africa and South America. They can also be found in Madagascar, and Trinidad and Tobago. These very attractive ducks inhabit a variety of wetland areas including swamps, marshes and bodies of freshwater, usually constructing nests on the ground among long grasses. Although they do belong to the family of tree ducks, they rarely roost in trees. White-faced tree ducks are the most vocal of all the tree ducks, especially while feeding. Being primarily night feeders, they have an omnivorous diet, feeding mainly on aquatic vegetation, seeds and insects. With long legs and long necks, these ducks obtain their food by dabbling and diving. The female lays 4 to 13 eggs which she incubates for about a month. Once hatched the chicks take 8 weeks to become independent. This species of whistling duck is not considered threatened.
Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)
Originating in Brazil, Muscovies are the only domestic ducks not derived from mallard stock. The normal muscovy coloration is black and white but domestication has produced many different colors. They are unique because of their bright red caruncles (rippled flesh) around their eyes and above their beak. Their webbed feet are equipped with sharp claws which are helpful for grabbing tree branches and roosting. Muscovies do not spend much time in the water because their oil glands are underdeveloped compared to most ducks. This makes water-proofing their feathers a difficult job. They are however, much better fliers than other domestic ducks. As they have been domesticated for many years their preferred habitat varies between ponds, lakes and suburban areas. They feed primarily on underwater vegetation and seeds. Muscovy hens lay about three clutches a year of about 8 to 20 eggs each. They make excellent mothers and will protect their young with their lives. The Muscovy duck can be found all over the world now and is no way considered to be a threatened species.
American Widgeon (Anas americana)
The American widgeon is often confused with the Eurasian widgeon as they are similar in every way except for the colored bands on their heads. The male American widgeon has a green band on the side of its head while the male Eurasian has a gray band.
The American Widgeon has very large winter and breeding ranges that spread north to the tips of Alaska and Canada, and south through Mexico to the northern parts of South America. Winter distribution is concentrated in the southern states, where as breeding takes place mostly in northwestern North America. During the winter, the widgeon is found in areas where emergent vegetation is abundant. It inhabits freshwater marshes, lakes, estuaries and agricultural lands. Areas with more vegetation cover near lakes or marshes are preferred during the breeding season. This very cautious and quiet duck is a crepuscular feeder (feeding at dusk and dawn) on aquatic and terrestrial plants, seeds, water insects and small fry. They use the strength in the tip of their beak to pluck vegetation and also filter feed with the lamellae on the upper mandible. Pair bonds are formed upon the arrival at the wintering grounds. Although pair bonds may last several years the male only stays with the female for the first two weeks of incubation. Females will perform distraction displays to keeps predators such as skunks, weasels, foxes and badgers away from their brood.
Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
Male Mandarin ducks may be the most beautiful of all waterfowl. The males have an iridescent crown extending to a long crest and bright chestnut cheeks. The females are a lot less colorful than their male counterparts. They closely resemble female wood ducks but can be distinguished by the narrow eye stripe. During molting periods, the males shed their head feathers and look much like the females. Molting also causes temporary lightlessness so the camouflage is a definite gain at this time.
The Mandarin duck originated in China but, now, can be found almost anywhere there is suitable habitat. They prefer to live in woodlands near water, favoring mountain areas with streams and marshes. These ducks feed by ‘head-dipping’ in shallow waters, feeding on seeds, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails and small fish. Breeding season commences with elaborate courtship behaviors performed by the males. He displays with complex shaking movements, as well as drinking and preening displays. Newly hatched ducklings are hard to observe because the females are extremely protective over their brood. Predators of the species vary with geographical range and include raccoons, otters, mink, eagle owls and snakes.
Peking duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
The Peking duck, a variety of mallard, has been domesticated for so many years that little is actually known about their natural history. As they are mainly either pets or farmed for food there is little information available about there natural behavior. It is known that they originated in China and are unable to fly, probably due to genetic selection over many years. They are capable of producing about 160 eggs per year. Small feral populations do exist, but little is recorded regarding their eating habits. It can only be assumed that Peking ducks are opportunistic and depending on the environment, feed on aquatic and terrestrial plants, seed, grains and insects.
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