Come identificare Mandarin Duck

Per identificare correttamente Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), controlla ciascuna di queste caratteristiche. Gli uccelli possono essere complicati da riconoscere, perché comportamento, habitat e canto spesso confermano ciò che una sola foto non può.

Dimensioni a colpo d'occhio

Lunghezza

41-49 cm (16-19 in)

Apertura alare

65-75 cm (26-30 in)

Peso

428-693 g (15.1-24.4 oz)

Caratteristiche fisiche da controllare

1. 1

   Piumaggio

   Colorazione e disegno generale del piumaggio.

   Male breeding plumage is extraordinarily vibrant: iridescent green-purple crest, white supercilium, rufous face and 'whiskers', orange-red bill, white breast with two vertical black bars, rufous flanks, and two prominent orange 'sails' (modified tertial feathers) on the back. Female plumage is much duller: grey head with a white eye-ring and stripe extending back from the eye, mottled grey-brown body, white belly, and a small white flank stripe. Both sexes have a small crest.

2. 2

   Forma del becco

   Forma e colore del becco, un segno di campo chiave.

   Relatively small, conical bill. Male's bill is bright orange-red with a pale tip; female's bill is dull grey with a pale tip.

3. 3

   Colore degli occhi

   Colore dell'iride e segni distintivi sugli occhi.

   Dark brown in both sexes.

4. 4

   Colore delle zampe

   Colore di zampe e piedi.

   Dull orange-yellow in males, duller yellow-brown in females.

5. 5

   Caratteristiche distintive

   Tratti distintivi che separano questa specie.

   Male's 'sails' on the back, rufous 'whiskers', and vibrant crest are unmistakable. Female's distinct white eye-ring and post-ocular stripe are key identifiers.

6. 6

   Aspetto giovanile

   Come i giovani si differenziano dagli adulti.

   Juveniles resemble adult females but are duller, with a less distinct white eye-ring and stripe, and often have some streaking on the breast and flanks.

7. 7

   Cambiamenti stagionali

   Variazione del piumaggio tra stagione riproduttiva e non.

   Males undergo an eclipse plumage after breeding, which closely resembles the female's plumage, though they retain their orange-red bill and some residual rufous on the head. This eclipse plumage is typically held from late summer through early autumn.

8. 8

   Dimorfismo sessuale

   Differenze tra maschi e femmine.

   Highly pronounced. Males are far more colorful and ornate than females, especially during breeding season. Females are cryptically colored for camouflage during nesting.

Segni di campo chiave

• Male Plumage (Breeding). Look for the unmistakable combination of the iridescent green-purple crest, white supercilium, rufous 'whiskers', orange 'sails' on the back, and the orange-red bill. No other duck species has this combination.
• Female Plumage. Focus on the grey head with a prominent white eye-ring and a distinct white stripe extending backward from the eye. The body is mottled grey-brown with a white belly and a small white flank stripe. The bill is dull grey.
• Behavior. Observe their preference for wooded water bodies. They are often seen perching on branches over water, a characteristic shared with their close relative, the Wood Duck, but uncommon for most other duck species.
• Vocalization. Listen for the male's soft 'wheep' or 'creak' and the female's low 'geck' call. The absence of a typical 'quack' is a good indicator.

Esplora Mandarin Duck