Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia. Morten Strange

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Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia - Morten Strange


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crecca 38 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Male unmistakable. Female (feeding in foreground of photo) distinguished with some difficulty from the Gargany duck by lack of pale eyebrow.

      Voice: A short melodic krick.

      Habits: Frequents freshwater ponds and lakes; also visits tidal lagoons during migration. Feeds on vegetable matter in shallow water. Like all dabbling ducks, it takes off vertically from the water's surface when disturbed and flies rapidly to another pond.

      SPOT-BILLED DUCK

      Anas poecilorhyncha 61 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Note diagnostic yellow tip of bill; also look for fine black eye-stripe and white patch in closed wing.

      Voice: A Mallard-like quack.

      Habits: Occurs in shallow freshwater ponds and lagoons where it feeds by dabbling for vegetable matter along vegetated edges. An adaptable species also found in flooded fields and rice paddies. Much hunted, but recovers quickly in protected areas.

      PHILIPPINE DUCK (Philippine Mallard)

      Anas luzonica 53 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Unmistakable; sexes similar.

      Voice: A Mallard-like quack-quack both in flight and on the water.

      Habits: The most numerous duck in the country, both in the lowlands and at montane elevations. Although still seen regularly in freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds and rivers where it feeds by dabbling on the water's surface, it has declined in numbers. Its habits have been little studied. Seems to breed year round, but its nest has never been found in the wild.

      MALLARD

      Anas platyrhynchos 58 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Male unmistakable, with green head and chestnut breast. Female (photo) distinguished with difficulty from other ducks by facial pattern and short tail.

      Voice: Quacks like a domestic duck.

      Habits: The most widespread and numerous of all ducks in the world and the wild form of the domestic duck. Adaptable and tolerant to human disturbance. Frequents freshwater marshes, lakes and ponds; seen less often on tidal river estuaries. Avoids tropical conditions and is not successful in this region.

      GADWALL

      Anas strep era 51 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Top photo shows female on location in Singapore. Note diagnostic wing pattern. Male has bluish-grey flanks and pale head.

      Voice: Usually silent.

      Habits: Found in freshwater ponds and lakes, where it feeds by dabbling through the water surface, picking out vegetable matter such as seeds, leaves and roots of aquatic plants. Flight is fast, strong and direct.

      GARGANEY

      Anas querquedula 41 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Small size and rapid flight are characteristic. Breeding mate has prominent white eyebrows. Female has pale brown plumage, with diagnostic light brown stripes across its head.

      Voice: Usually silent; sometimes a slight kwak.

      Habits: By far the most widespread and numerous migratory duck in the region. Found in prime habitats during the northern winter, sometimes by the thousands. Frequents lakes and reservoirs, also tidal ponds and coastal lagoons, feeding on both vegetable and animal aquatic food found at the water's surface

      NORTHERN SHOVELER

      Anas clypeata 52 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Photo shows male in captivity. Female is a uniform scaly-brown, but its peculiar bill is always diagnostic.

      Voice: A Mallard-like quack.

      Habits: Frequents freshwater lakes and reservoirs, but seen less often in coastal wetlands. Feeds by dabbling through the water's surface, extracting both vegetable and tiny animal food with its specialised bill.

      COMMON POCHARD

      Aythya ferina 44 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Male (photo) unmistakable. Note pate grey body and reddish-brown head. Female is a nondescript brown; lacks the white wing bar in flight

      Voice: Usually quiet; sometimes a low hissing call.

      Habits: Found in vegetated freshwater ponds and lakes. Often moves out to coastal lagoons and tidal estuaries in winter. Unlike previous species (dabbling ducks in genus Anas) this species belongs to a small group of diving ducks. it feeds on plants and small invertebrates on the water's surface, but readily dives and can swim several metres under water.

      TUFTED DUCK

      Aythya fuligula 43 cm F: Anatidae

      Description: Female (photo) distinguished by small tuft and whitish patch at base of bill. Male has black body contrasting sharply with white planks.

      Voice: Usually quiet; during courtship a soft whistling and cooing.

      Habits: Frequents freshwater lakes with plenty of vegetation cover and often moves to lagoons and tidal


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