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Images, and comprehensive information on the
most common migrating waterfowl
found in Iraq and other wetlands of Arabia.
Black Duck
The black duck is notorious for being one of the smartest of
all ducks. It is often very hard to call and decoy and is very
suspicious of its Surroundings. It flies quite frequently with
mallards, and will often leave an area when the mallards it's
flying with start working the decoys. On the water it usually
stays with its own species in small groups.
This duck is a surface feeder.
Body:
Large duck
2 1/2 - 3 pounds
24-28 inches long
Both male and female are almost identical. In fact the only
difference is the color of their bills. Body plumage is dark
sooty brown and feathers are thinly edged with beige.
The crown is dark and sides of the head and neck are beige or
light brown.
Bill of male yellow to greenish yellow.
Female bill greenish olive with blotches.
Feet orange to reddish orange.
Wings:
Dark with purplish blue speculum bordered with black bars on
leading and trailing edges. The under wing is white with grayish
colored tips.
In Flight: Black body contrasts with white underwings.
Voice:
Female, loud quack
Male, low raspy rink.
Speed:
70 feet per second
Habitat:
Breeding: On fresh and saltwater mashes in both open and wooded country.
Wintering: Marshlands, sheltered bays, and estuaries.
Range:
Breeding: Eastern and Northern Europe
Wintering: Arabian marshes and wetlands
Looks almost identical to the mottled duck
Food:
Diet varies depending on area found. primarily eats plants by dabbling in
bodies of water and grazing on land, also eats fish, usually late season
shad,and snails.
Table Fare Rating:Fair to excellent depending on area.
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Blue-winged Teal
Usually one of the first birds to migrate,
It is one of the faster flying ducks and since
they are so small they appear to fly even faster.
They can be a real challenge to shoot even for the
experienced duck hunter. Adding to this is their
erratic flight patterns which consists of dodges,
twists, and circles which are done in unison, with
the group acting as one. A surface feeder.
Body:
Small duck
(Male) 10 to 18 ounces
(Female) 10 to 17 ounces
24-28 inches long
(Male) Light brown body plumage heavily spotted with
dark brown. The head is blue-black with a white crescent
curving in front of the eye. The inner forewing is light
blue and the speculum is green. The under wing is white.
(Female) Light brown body plumage heavily spotted with
dark brown. The head is also brown with the crown being a
dark shade and the sides lighter. A dark brown stripe runs
across the side of the head and through the eye.
Wings:
The inner forewing is light blue and the speculum is very
dark brown. The under wing is white.
Voice:
Female: loud raspy quack. Sound Clip #1 #2
Male: whistle peep. Sound Clip
Speed:85 feet per second
Habitat:
Breeding: On fresh and saltwater marshes in open country
and on the coasts of northen, eastern and western Europe.
Wintering: marshlands and lakes.
Range:
Breeding: Found in northen, eastern and western Europe.
Wintering: marshlands and lakes in Iraq,Iran,Syria, and
North africa.
Food:
Diet consists of grass seeds and aquatic vegetation.
On occasion will eat mollusks, insects, and crustaceans.
Generally eat close to shore and often under cover of vegetation.
Table Fare Rating:
Excellent. Considered one of the best ducks to eat.
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Bufflehead
The Bufflehead is the smallest diving duck.
Strikingly patterned in black and white,
and constantly active. These compactly built
birds become much heavier during migration
gaining several onces of stored fat as fuel
for travel. This is where they derive the name
"butterballs." Like their near relatives,
the goldeneyes and mergansers, Bufflehead males
do not attain adult plumage until their second
winter, and first breed when nearly two years old.
it usually stays with its own species in small groups.
Sound Clip
Adult Males are black above and white below, with
bright pink feet. They wear a white "shawl" around
the back of the head, and a broad white band extends
from front to back across each wing.
Adult females and first-year males are more drab,
with the dark areas sooty-grey or brownish rather
than black, and the white areas duller and smaller
in size than in adult males.
Both sexes are normally silent, and the only sound
commonly heard from Buffleheads is the "grrk" call
of females alarmed near nest or brood.
Breeding Courtship occurs through the winter, becoming
more intensive as spring approaches, but most pairing
seems to take place during the spring migration, and the
birds are paired by the time they reach breeding areas.
Males outnumber females, as in most diving ducks, so an
appreciable proportion of adult males remains unpaired.
In most areas Buffleheads start nesting soon after their
arrival. The female Bufflehead lays her eggs in a tree
cavity, usually the former nest of a Flicker (woodpecker).
The related goldeneyes and mergansers are also tree-nesters.
Habitat:
Breeding: Lakes, ponds, small streams in the forest zone
south of the tundra. They seldom nest by rivers and larger
lakes as do the other related species, possibly because these
waters are inhabited by northern pike, a large fish which
readily feeds on small ducklings.
Wintering: Shallow, sheltered waters of coves, river mouths,
and lagoons, which have a muddy or gravelly bottom. They often
feed around old pilings of wharves or log booms.
Range:
Breeding: From Central to north central Europe and south to the
Bulgaria and Italy.
Wintering: Along the Medditeranian coast to Iraq and Iran.
Food:
Their main foods are arthropods, mostly insect larvae in fresh
water and small crustaceans (shrimps, crabs, amphipods) in salt
water. In fall many seeds of aquatic plants are eaten, and in
winter small marine snails or freshwater clams are taken in their
respective habitats.
Table Fare Rating:Very Poor
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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Canvasback
The Canvasback is a duck that is found in the North
parts of the ex Soviet union . It is a favorite of hunters,
as it is delicious to eat if it has itself eaten
the right food. Canvasbacks take their specific
name from an aquatic plant, called wild celery,
or Vallisneria americana, which is one of the foods
that impart an excellent flavour to this game bird.
Male and female Canvasbacks resemble Redheads and
Ring-necked Ducks of the corresponding sex, but can
be distinguished from them by their longer black bills
and less abrupt foreheads.
Body: 24-28 inches long
Adult Male is a large, weighing 36 to 56 ounces,
white-bellied, grey-backed duck with a black chest,
sloping forehead, and ruddy chestnut head and neck.
Adult Female is about the same size, 33 to 49 ounces,
and has the same sloping forehead and long bill.
She is less colourful and thus more able to blend
into her surroundings as she incubates her eggs and
rears her young. She is white-bellied with a pale brown
back and reddish brown head, neck, and chest.
In early autumn, the young of both sexes resemble adult
females, although their breast plumage is more mottled and
their back plumage is darker. During November, the young
males begin to resemble the adult males, and by February
the adult plumage of both sexes has almost completely grown in.
The Canvasback is one of the most powerful fliers among ducks,
capable of speeds of 70 miles per hour. Their wings create a loud whirring noise.
Although Canvasbacks dabble at times, they are in the diving
duck class because they usually dive for their food and like
other divers, they have a special lobe on their hind toe that
they use like a paddle in the water.
When taking off from the water, Canvasbacks patter along the
surface for some distance before becoming airborne.
The Canvasback is an awkward bird on land due to its large size,
short legs, and webbed feet.
Range:
Breeding: Canvasback's main breeding range in central Ukraine
and Northern Europ
Wintering: Canvasbacks travel along major migration flyways.
some migrate southeastwards to wintering areas along the
Mediterranian coast. Some continue southwest to Africa.
Large flocks migrate through Turkey and Iran to marshes region,
where they are observed in large numbers.
During migration, Canvasbacks usually fly high up in V-shaped flocks.
On their winter feeding grounds, they often form small compact flocks
and fly about for pleasure, especially in the early morning and the
late afternoon.
Canvasback Female - Raspy Quack. Sound Clip
Food:
Canvasbacks usually feed by diving in water 2 to 9 m deep,
but occasionally they dabble in shallow areas with surface-feeding
ducks, especially Euro Wigeon.
Their diet includes about 80% aquatic plants, primarily pondweeds,
wild celery, duck potato, wild rice, banana water lily, and milfoils.
Animal material consumed includes molluscs, insects, and various fish.
Feeding generally occurs during the day, although Canvasbacks
sometimes feed at night.
Table Fare Rating: Fair to excellent depending on area and diet.
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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Cinnamon Teal
One of the first ducks to migrate.It is one of the faster
flying ducks and since they are so small they appear to
fly even faster. They can be a real challenge to shoot
even for the experienced duck hunter. Adding to this is
their erratic flight patterns which consists of dodges,
twists, and circles which are done in unison, with the
group acting as one.
A surface feeder.
Body:
A Small dabbling duck with a long bill that is somewhat spatulate at tip.
Body is 16" in length
Weight of male - 10 to 18 ounces
Weight of Female - 10 to 17 ounces
Adult Male Chestnut color on head, neck, breast,
and under body plumage. Upper body plumage brown
with light brown. The inner forewing is light blue
and the speculum is green. The under wing is white.
Feature of males over 8 weeks old is red eyes.
Adult Female Light brown body plumage heavily spotted
with dark brown. The head is also brown with the crown
being a dark shade and the sides lighter. A dark brown
stripe runs across the side of the head and through
the eye. The inner forewing is light blue and the speculum
is very dark brown. The under wing is white. The female
looks almost identical to the female Blue Wing Teal.
Wing Span:
Male: 7.25 to 7.75 inches
Female: 7 to 7.5inches
Male: A low chattering.
Female: A quack.
Speed: 85 feet per second
Habitat: On marshes and margins of ponds in open country.
Range:
Breeding Found from Northwestern Europe to Eastern parts
of Russia & Ukraine.
Wintering migrate to Iraq,Iran and other Tropical middle
eastern countries.
Food:
Diet consists of grass seeds and aquatic vegetation.
On occasion will eat mollusks and insects.
Table Fare Rating:
Excellent. Considered one of the best ducks to eat.
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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Common Merganser
Common Mergansers, are generally found in freshwater habitats.
Because of their relative unimportance to recreational hunters,
almost nothing is known about their population dynamics.
They exploit a diversity of inshore and offshore marine habitats
during the non-breeding season, and their use of habitat during
breeding varies from coastal through freshwater wetlands of the
tundra. Sea ducks thus are important indicators of the quality
of freshwater and marine ecosystems.
Body:
Length: 18 inches
Wingspan: 37 inches
Large, sleek diving duck Long, pointed bill with serrated edges.
Red bill is thick at base, tapering towards tip Sleek, tapered crest,
more obvious on females than on males. Brown eye White secondaries.
Immature similar to adult female, often with a less-distinct chin patch.
Adult male: Greenish-black head and upper neck White breast, flanks and belly.
Adult female: Red-brown head meets pale breast in crisp line of division
Well-defined white chin White breast and belly Pale gray body plumage.
Black back and upperwing coverts with white scapulars White secondary
coverts crossed with indistinct dark bar Alternate plumage worn from fall
through early summer Male in basic eclipse plumage similar to adult female.
Male: A whistle. Sound clip
Female: Horse croak. Sound clip
Habitat:
Breeding: On fresh marshes, shallow lakes and ponds.
Wintering: On fresh shallow lakes, ponds, and often estuaries.
Range:
Breeding: Found throughout northern Europe.
Wintering: The tropical wet lands.
Diet:
Mostly fish. Lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates Table Fare Rating: Very Poor
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Fulvous Whistling-Duck
These 2 unique species of tree ducks are found
in the extreme Southern United States. The trailing
legs and rounded wings both species of these slow
flying ducks makes them look bigger than they actually are.
Fulvous Whistling Duck:
Body:
Medium-sized duck, up to 2 pounds 18-22 inches long,
Sexes are alike in both species.
Light cinnamon with dark back. Very long neck.
Short dark tail with white upper- and undertail coverts.
Bill bluish black. Long bluish gray legs.
Black Bellied Whistling Duck:
Body:
Medium-sized duck, up to 2 pounds
16 inches long
Sexes are alike in both species.
Light cinnamon chest and lower neck with distinct black belly.
Sides of head ashy gray. Bill bright pink. Long pinkish legs.
Wings:
Fulvous Whistling Duck: Lesser and middle coverts cinnamon;
remainder dusky black.
Black Bellied Whistling Duck: Lesser, middle, greater and
primary coverts white. Black belly evident.
Voice:
Both Species have shrill whistling calls.
Fulvous Whistling Duck Sound Clip
In Flight:
Long legs extend behind body on both species.
Habitat:
Wetland-open water
Range:
Fulvous Whistling Duck are primarily Mexican. In the United
States they are found primarily in south Texas, Louisiana,
and in Florida with occasional stragglers further north along
both coasts and the Mississippi Valley.
Black-bellied Whistling Duck are also primarily Mexican.
In the U.S., the Black-bellied Whistling Duck is found only
in south Texas and Louisiana.
Diet:
Mostly plant matter with lesser quantities of insects
Table Fare Rating:Excellent
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Gadwall
Although not concentrated in any specific country of
Northern hemisphere, this bird is fairly common in the
Central Europe and Ukraine.
It is also seen in France and Western Europe.
A surface feeder.
Body:
A Medium Sized dabbling duck
Body is 14.5" in length
Weight of male is 21 to 39 ounces
Weight of female is 16 to 35 ounces
Adult Male: Lacking bright and bold colors the male
is identified by it's black bordered white speculum.
The remainder of the plumage is brown with gray crescent
shaped markings on the breast and flanks. The bill is
gray and the head is rounded with a steep forehead.
Adult Female: Lighter brown in body plumage the female
is identified by it's black bordered white speculum.
The bill is yellow-orange with some dark gray along
the top and the head is rounded with a steep forehead.
Sometimes mistaken for the female Redhead.
Wing Span:
Male: 10.25 to 11 inches
Female: 9.5 to 10 inches
Male: A beep.
Female: A rough quack.
Speed: 75 feet per second
Habitat:
On freshwater lakes, marshes, and swamps often seeking
the cover of aquatic vegetation.
Range:
Breeding: Found in prairie breeding grounds mostly in
central North Europe and ex Soviet Union. This includes a
belt ranging from Belgium and France to the Eastern Europe.
Wintering: Southern Sudan and middle eastern countries
particularly the marshes region of Iraq and Iran.
Food:
Diet consists of grass seeds and aquatic vegetation taken
at surface or just below.
Table Fare Rating:
Good to excellent depending on region.
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Greater Scaup
The combined breeding population of Greater
and Lesser Scaup is larger than that of any
other diving duck species and greater than
that of most dabbling ducks in the marshes
of Arabia.
The Greater Scaup can be distinguished from
the very similar Lesser Scaup by its larger
size, wing stripe that extends well into the
primaries, and glossy, greenish head as an
adult male in alternate plumage. Both species
migrate late, sometimes just before freezeup.
Flock movements are rapid, often erratic,
usually in compact groups
Body:
Small compact diving duck
Length: 18 - 19 inches
Weight: 1.5 to 2.0 pounds
Rounded crown Yellow eyes (brown in immatures)
Blue bill with black nail at tip
Adult Male: Similar to adult female
Adult female: Distinct white band around base of
bill Dark brown body plumage Whitish belly
Immature female similar to adult female, immature
male is similar to female in autumn, but acquires
alternate plumage during winter
Adult male alternate: Alternate plumage worn from
fall through early summer Glossy greenish head Black
breast Whitish or pale gray flanks, white belly
Whitish back with fine black vermiculations.
Wing:
Dark wing with dark-tipped white secondaries and
inner primaries and pale gray outer primaries.
Black upper and under-tail coverts
Voice:
Male: A discordant scaup, scaup.
Female: silent.
Habitat:
large open water areas particularly brackish or
saltwater habitats.
Range:
Scaup are the most widespread of North Europe diving
ducks extending from northern tundra in the ex Soviet Union.
in summer to southern Iraq and other wet land in Arabia.
Food:
Diet consists of aquatic mollusks and insects.
Table Fare Rating: Poor
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Green-winged Teal
Male
Female
Usually one of the first birds to migrate.
It is one of the faster flying ducks and since
they are so small (about the size of a pigeon)
they appear to fly even faster. They can be a
real challenge to shoot even for the experienced
duck hunter. Adding to this is their erratic
flight patterns which consists of dodges, twists,
and circles which are done in unison, with the
group acting as one. A surface feeder.
Body:
Weight:
Adult male: 8 to 16 ounces
Adult female: 6 to 15 ounces
Male: A chestnut head with a dark green mask
over the eye and extending and tapering down to
the back of the head. The front of this mask is
partially edged in yellow. The rear-end is black
with light yellow patches. The sides of the breast
have vertical white markings. The primary markings
when flying is the green speculum.
Female: Light brown mottled body plumage and a dark
stripe across the eye along with the green speculum
help to identify the female.
Wing Span:
Male: 7.25 to 7.75 inches
Female: 6.5 to 7.25inches
Male: A whistle. Sound clip #1 Sound clip #2
Female: A rough quack. Sound clip
Speed: 85 feet per second
Habitat:
Breeding: On fresh and saltwater marshes in open country
and on the coasts of northen, eastern and western Europe.
Wintering: Tropical marshlands and lakes .
Range:
Breeding: Found in northen, eastern and western Europe.
Wintering: marshlands and lakes in Iraq,Iran,Syria, and
North africa.
Food:
Diet consists almost entirely of seeds filtered from mud
in marshy areas.
Table Fare Rating:
Excellent. Considered one of the best ducks to eat.
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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Lesser Scaup
The combined breeding population of Greater and
Lesser Scaup is larger than that of any other
diving duck species and greater than that of most
dabbling ducks in North Europe. The Lesser Scaup
can be distinguished from the very similar Greater
Scaup by its smaller size. This late migrator often
leaves the breeding range just prior to freezeup.
Flock movements are rapid, often erratic, usually
in compact groups.
Body:
Small compact diving duck
Length: 13 - 17 inches
Weight: 1.5 to 2.0 pounds
Peaked crown Yellow eyes
Blue bill with small black nail at tip
Adult Male: Similar to adult female
Adult female: Distinct white band around base of
bill Dark brown body plumage Whitish belly
Immature female similar to adult female, immature
male is similar to female in autumn, but acquires
alternate plumage during winter
Adult male alternate: Alternate plumage worn from
fall through early summer Glossy purplish head, black
breast Whitish or pale gray flanks, white belly, whitish
back with fine black vermiculations. Black tail, upper- and
under-tail coverts.
Body:
Small compact diving duck
Length: 13 - 17 inches
Weight: 1.5 to 2.0 pounds
Peaked crown Yellow eyes
Blue bill with small black nail at tip
Adult Male: Similar to adult female
Adult female: Distinct white band around base of bill Dark
brown body plumage Whitish belly
Immature female similar to adult female, immature male is
similar to female in autumn, but acquires alternate plumage during winter
Adult male alternate: Alternate plumage worn from fall through early
summer Glossy purplish head, black breast Whitish or pale gray flanks,
white belly, whitish back with fine black vermiculations. Black tail,
upper- and under-tail coverts.
Wing:
Dark wing with dark tipped white secondaries and pale gray primaries
Male: A low purr.
Female: A silent.
Habitat:
Freshwater marshes and ponds.
Range:
Scaup are the most widespread of North Europe diving
ducks extending from northern tundra in the ex Soviet Union.
in summer to southern Iraq and other wet land in Arabia.
Diet:
Consists of primarily green plant matter, and seeds. Lesser quantities
of aquatic invertebrates
Table Fare Rating:Considered poor in most areas.
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Mallard
Male
The Mallard is no doubt the most widely recognized
duck in the world. He decoys readily and
responds to a call better than any other duck.
It is said the male Mallard is more intelligent than
the female Mallard, and their diet is varied and easy to control
through the use of feed. A fact that has been used to take advantage
of him illegally.
A surface feeder.
Body:
Weight:
Adult Male: 30 to 55 ounces
Adult Female: 26 to 46 ounces
Adult Male: The males has a deep green head, a white
neck ring and a brown chest. The body is gray above,
light brown below, and rear-end is black with a white
tail. The bill is solid yellow.
Adult Female: Body plumage is brown and light brown.
The crown is dark and sides of the head and neck are
beige or light brown. The female has a yellow bill which
is spotted or painted with olive gray.
Wing Span:
Adult Male: 11 to 12 inches
Adult Female: 10 to 11.25 inches
Adult Male: The speculum is deep blue and bordered with
narrow bands of black and white.
Adult Female: The top of the wings are dark brown with a
deep blue speculum bordered with narrow bands of black and white.
Voice:
Male - Low raspy rink
Female - Loud resonant quack.
Speed: 70 feet per second
Habitat:
Lakes, ponds, rivers, sheltered coasts. Very adaptable and
often found in urban areas including yards and parks.
Range:
Breeding: Across grasslands and forest zones of Europe.
Wintering: Mediteranian European birds largely sedentary.
Northern hemisphere birds migrate to the southern Iraq and Iran.
Food:
Diet varies depending on the part of country found. Versatile
eaters. Seeds, insects, water weeds, plants and invertebrates,
along with land grasses and grains.
Table Rating:Fair to excellent depending on area.
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Mottled Duck
refer to black duck
The mottled duck is very similar in appearance to the
black duck found in the United States. In fact, unless
you have a species of each side by side it can be almost
impossible to tell them apart. In Iraq the mottled duck
is predominant.
This bird makes it's home in this region and does not usually
migrate. It is not nearly as hard to call and decoy as the black
duck yet it is also suspicious of its surroundings. On the water
it usually stays with its own species in small groups.
This duck is a surface feeder.
Body:
A large dabbling duck
Weight:
Adult Male: 32 ounces to 42 ounces
Adult Female: 30 ounces to 38 ounces
Both male and female are almost identical.
In fact the only difference is the color of their bills.
The males bill is solid yellow. The female has a yellow bill which
is spotted or painted with olive gray. Body plumage is dark brown
and feathers are thinly edged with beige. The crown is dark and sides
of the head and neck are beige or light brown. Legs are orange-red.
Looks almost identical to the black duck found in the Atlantic flyway.
Wing Span:
Adult Male: 10.5 to 11.75 inches
Adult Female: 9.75 to 10.75 inches
The top of the wings are dark brown with a dark purple speculum.
The under wing is white with grayish colored tips.
Speed: 70 feet per second
Habitat:Breeding & Wintering:
On fresh and saltwater mashes in both open and wooded country.
Range:
Breeding & Wintering:
The southern and central region of Iraq and Iran. This bird does
not normally migrate.
Food:
Diet varies depending on the part of country found. Primarily eats
plants by dabbling in bodies of water.
Table Fare Rating:Fair to excellent.
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Northern Shoveler
Very easy to identify by it's unique bill,
this bird is easily shot, often to the despair
of the hunter who does not usually regard him as
a good tasting bird. This bird migrates early and
is a surface feeder. It is said that the drake
resembles the drake Mallard when in full color
Body:
Length: 19.5 inches
Weight: 1-1/2 pounds
A medium sized dabbling duck that is distinguished
by it's large bill.
Adult male: The head and neck is green, the chest is
white and the remainder of the under parts are chestnut.
Black bill and yellow eyes. The back is black.
Adult female: A huge bill immediately identifies this bird.
The bill is Orange with dusky patches. Brown eyes.
The body of the female is brown and Light brown.
Wing Span:
Adult Male: 9 to 10 inches
Adult Female: 8.5 to 9.5inches
Adult Male: The scapulars are black and white.
The inner forewing is pale blue.
Adult Female: The inner forewing is pale blue
Female: A feeble quack.
Habitat:
Inland shallow muddy marshes and lakes, the shallow margins
of large lake and sometimes in saltwater and brackish lagoons
and shallow bays.
Range:
Breeding: Across grasslands and forest zones of Europe.
Wintering: Mediteranian European birds largely sedentary.
Northern hemisphere birds migrate to the southern Iraq and Iran.
Food:
Diet consists of filtered plankton, water beetles, small minnows,
and snails.
Table Fare Rating:
Poor to Fair. at least 30% of their diet consists of insect
and non-plant matter.
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Pintail
Male
The Pintail is probably one of the most beautiful
ducks. It is very graceful in flight and does
not take kindly to flying in bad weather. The Pintail
is a surface feeding dabbling duck.
Body:
Large-appearing duck, with very long neck, small head and
attenuated rear .
Length: 26 inches
Weight: 2 pounds
Adult Male: The male has a rich brown head with a white
line running up the back of the neck from the breast.
The body is gray above and on the flanks. Feet gray.
Elongated black tail. The long black tail feathers of
the male help distinguish it in flight as they add up to
4 inches to it's length. The bill is gray-blue with a black
strip down middle.
Adult Female: Body plumage is brown and light brown with a
slightly grayer tint than other female surface feeding ducks.
The bill is gray-blue with small black spots. Feet gray.
Wing Span:10 to 11 inches for both sexes
Male: The long scapulars are black, white, and light brown
Speed: 75 feet per second
Male: Whistle.
Female: Hoarse quack.
Speed: 85 feet per second
Habitat:
marshy tundra, forest marshes, lakes, ponds, inland marshlands,
and sheltered coasts.
Range:
Breeding: Across grasslands and forest zones of Europe.
Wintering: Mediteranian European birds largely sedentary.
Northern hemisphere birds migrate to the southern Iraq and Iran.
Diet:
Animal and plant food sifted from lake bed mud. Land seeds and tubers.
Table Fare Rating:
Fair to excellent depending on area.
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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Redhead
The Redhead, a diving duck, is a well-known and widely
distributed European diving duck. It is an open-water
bird and during migration is sometimes found in huge congregations,
called "rafts," well out from shore in larger lakes and bays.
Body:
Medium-sized duck
Weight: 2 - 2 1/2 pounds
Length: 20-22 inches long.
Adult male: is a large, grey-backed, white-breasted duck with
a reddish-chestnut head and black neck and chest. It resembles
the larger male Canvasback. At close range, the head appears puffy,
with an abrupt forehead and a short, broad bill, while the Canvasback's
bill is longer and slopes down from the forehead.
Adult female: is a large, brown-backed, white-breasted duck with a brown
head, whitish chin, abrupt forehead, short, broad bill, and pearl-grey
wing patches. Female Redheads, although larger, may be confused with
female Ring-necked Ducks and scaups.
In autumn young Redheads resemble adult females, although their breast
plumage is dull grey-brown, rather than white. During November and December,
the young begin to develop the adult plumage, which has almost completely
grown in by February.
Wings:
Adult male: 7.25 to 7.75 inches - Grayish brown with faint white flecking.
Speculum dull pearl gray with faint white trailing. edge
Adult female: 7 to 7.5inches - Similar to male but less flecking.
Voice:
Male: Deep meow or purr.
Female: Loud squawk or quack.
Range:
Breeding Area: The Redhead's principal breeding range is in the prairies
of Europe.
Wintering: Northern hemisphere birds migrate to the southern Iraq and Iran.
Redheads feed by diving in water 3 - 15 15 deep and sometimes feed on the
surface in muddy shallow areas, as do dabbling ducks. Redheads consume a
higher proportion of plant material than any other diving duck, with 90
percent of their diet including such plants as pond weeds, musk grass,
sedges, grasses, wild celery, and duckweed.
Table Rating: good
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Wigeon
Male
Female
Average length:
Male: 50 cm
Female:48 cm
Average weight:
Male: 0.816 kg
Female: 0.725 kg
Description: Both males and females have a bluish black-tipped bill.
Male wigeons have a white patch from the forehead to the middle of the
crown and an iridescent green band from the eye to the back of the
head. They have pinkish-brown breast and sides that are separated from
the black undertail coverts by white flank feathers. In flight, the
white shoulder patch is diagnostic. The legs and feet
are blue-gray to dark gray.
Male whistles a "whee whee whew."
Female American wigeons have a gray head with a brownish black crown
and brownish chest and sides. The legs and feet are blue-gray to dark
gray.
Female vocalization is a "qua-ack."
Breeding:
Wigeon nest farther north than any other dabbling duck with the
exception of the northern pintail.
They breed throughout northern Russia, Ukraine, and Scandinavia.
Wigeon prefer shallow lakes and marshy sloughs that are surrounded
by dry sedge-lined meadows and contain submergent vegetation.
Female wigeons lay an average of 9 eggs.
Migrating and Wintering: Wigeon are among the earliest waterfowl to
reach their wintering grounds.
Wigeon in Scandinavia and western Europe migrate along the Atlantic
Flyway and winter in north and west Africa.
Birds that use the Central flyway along the Black
sea, Turkey flyway, wetlands and lakes in southern Iraq, and western
Iran provide very important wintering habitat for them. They use a
variety of habitats in winter, including ponds, lakes, and saline
and brackish marshes with abundant aquatic vegetation.
Wigeon also readily forage on grasses and sedges in wet meadows and
pastures.
Food habits: Wigeon are aquatic grazers and forage on grasses and
sedges in wet meadows and pastures.
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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Shoveler
Male
Female
Pictures by:
BirdPhotography.com
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