• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Where premium quality meets exceptional value. ZEISS Conquest HDX.

Difference between revisions of "Meller's Duck" - BirdForum Opus

m
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
;Anas melleri
+
[[Category:Anas]]
 +
;[[:Category:Anas|Anas]] melleri
 
[[Image:Mellers_Duck.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by balticbird]]
 
[[Image:Mellers_Duck.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by balticbird]]
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
Meller's Duck (Anas melleri) is a species of the dabbling duck genus Anas. These birds resemble a fairly large female Mallard. However, as opposed to most mallard relatives, they lack a supercilium. The speculum feathers are green as in some of its relatives, but unlike in these, it is bordered white as in the Mallard. This species is classified as Endangered by the IUCN. The Lac Alaotra wetlands, where historically the largest number of these birds was to be found, have suffered habitat destruction on a large scale in the latter half of the 20th century, and local waterbird populations have declined dramatically.
+
*Large, Brown Duck
 +
*Dives
 +
*Long, greyish Bill
 +
*Orange Legs
 +
*Metallic Green-Blue Speculum
 +
*White Underwings
 +
*Male Larger then female
 +
*Juvenile darker bill and duller plumage.
 +
*Larger, Darker with different coloured bill from Mallard.
  
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
It is endemic to eastern Madagascar. Although a population was established on Mauritius in the mid-18th century, this is on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and competition by feral domestic ducks.
+
[[Image:Meller's_Duck.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Graphics by Nrg800]]
 +
Endemic to [[Madagascar]] where most common on the large lakes to the West of the Island. Also Introduced to Mauritius where now rare.
  
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Only one known Subpopulation
 +
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 +
Often found in streams and Freshwater lakes, mainly the streams running east from the plateau.
 +
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Meller's Duck breeds apparently during most of the year except May-June on Madagascar, dependent on local conditions; the Mauritian population has been recorded to breed in October and November. Unlike most of their closer relatives - with the exception of the African Black Duck -, they are fiercely territorial during the breeding season; furthermore, pairs remain mated until the young are independent.
+
Often found in Pairs or small parties from 4-12 birds, though larger parties have been found on Lake Alaotra. They are Highly territorial, with territories of upto 2km long.
 
+
===Diet===
 +
Animal Matter, Seeds and Water Plants
 +
===Breeding===
 +
Nests from September to April. Nests in a mound of vegetation on the waters edge. Often nests in streams, undisturbed rivers or the blackwater of lakes.
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 
+
{{GSearch|Anas+melleri}}
[[Category:Birds]]
+
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Anas]] [[Category:Maps]]

Latest revision as of 22:25, 23 December 2009

Anas melleri
Photo by balticbird

Identification

  • Large, Brown Duck
  • Dives
  • Long, greyish Bill
  • Orange Legs
  • Metallic Green-Blue Speculum
  • White Underwings
  • Male Larger then female
  • Juvenile darker bill and duller plumage.
  • Larger, Darker with different coloured bill from Mallard.

Distribution

Graphics by Nrg800

Endemic to Madagascar where most common on the large lakes to the West of the Island. Also Introduced to Mauritius where now rare.

Taxonomy

Only one known Subpopulation

Habitat

Often found in streams and Freshwater lakes, mainly the streams running east from the plateau.

Behaviour

Often found in Pairs or small parties from 4-12 birds, though larger parties have been found on Lake Alaotra. They are Highly territorial, with territories of upto 2km long.

Diet

Animal Matter, Seeds and Water Plants

Breeding

Nests from September to April. Nests in a mound of vegetation on the waters edge. Often nests in streams, undisturbed rivers or the blackwater of lakes.

External Links

Back
Top