Category: Anseriformes

Diurnal time-activity budgets in wintering Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca in Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh

Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) Science Article 1 abstract Diurnal time-activity budgets were quantified for Ferruginous Pochard Aythya nyroca wintering in Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh. Individuals spent most time resting (60%), with less time spent feeding (17%), preening (14%) and swimming (9%). The time spent feeding was generally lower than for other Aythya species in winter, perhaps […]

Behavioural evidence of the systematic relationships of the Patagonian Crested Duck Lophonetta specularioides specularioides

Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides) Science Article 1 abstract Despite recent advances in phylogenetic analysis, relationships among species of dabbling ducks remain uncertain. In particular, the placement of the Crested Duck Lophonetta specularioides remains in question. Although most researchers have placed the Crested Duck within the tribe Anatini, its placement within the tribe varies from study […]

A tangled tale of two teal: population history of the chestnut teal Anas castanea and grey teal Anas gracilis of Australia

Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea) Science Article 1 abstract Two Australian species of teal (Anseriformes: Anatidae: Anas), the grey teal Anas gracilis and the chestnut teal A. castanea, are remarkable for the zero or near-zero divergence recorded between them in earlier surveys of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity. We confirmed this result through wider geographical and population […]

Effects of back-mounted radio packages on breeding Wood Ducks

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Science Article 1 abstract The effects of back-mounted radio transmitters on reproductive effort and return rates of pre-nesting pairs and incubating female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) were investigated. Twenty of 22 pre-nesting pairs remained together after capture and radio-marking, but only two females from radio-marked pairs attempted to incubate, and none […]

Variation of pecking rate with sward height in wild wigeon Anas penelope

Wigeon (Anas penelope) Science Article 2 abstract We examined how pecking rate changed with sward height in wintering European wigeon Anas penelope in a nature reserve of the French Atlantic coast. Pecking rates were recorded as the time taken to perform 10 or 50 pecks. We found a negative correlation between pecking rate and sward […]

Feeding behaviour of breeding Wigeon Anas penelope in relation to seasonal emergence and swarming behaviour of chironomids.

Wigeon (Anas penelope) Science Article 3 abstract Emergence of chironomids started in mid-April, and reached a peak at the end of April and in the beginning of May. Most ‘spring’ chironomids emerged around noon, whereas the majority of chironomids emerging later in the season, appeared at night. In general, there was a positive correlation between […]

Constraints of feeding on Salicornia ramosissimaby wigeonAnas penelope: an experimental approach

Wigeon (Anas penelope) Science Article 1 abstract The coastal marshes of the Charente-Maritime (western France) are a major wintering area for wigeon Anas penelope. In these marshes, wigeon feed mainly on grasses, while foraging on Salicornia (a .eshy, succulent halophyte) is uncommon. In order to understand the reason for this under-exploitation, an experimental study was […]

International Single Species Action Planfor the Conservation of theWhite-headed Duck

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) Science Article 2 abstract The White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals.It is also listed on Annex I of the European Union Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC) (BirdsDirective), on Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of European […]

Conservation of the globally threatened white-headed duck,Oxyura leucocephala, in the face of hybridization with the NorthAmerican ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis: results of a control trial

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) Science Article 1 abstract The North American ruddy duck, introduced into Europe in the 1960s, threatens the globally endangered whiteheadedduck with extinction through hybridization. A regional control trial, conducted in three areas of Britain, killed over 2,600birds and led to a significant regional reduction in ruddy duck numbers. Control using firearms […]