From Opus

Photo by vinaydarbal
Mysore, India, June 2010

Anas poecilorhyncha

[edit] Identification

With 58-63 cm slightly bigger than a Mallard.
The body is blackish and heavily scaled. The head is withish with a black cap and eyestripe. The terminal half of the inner tertial are white and the bill is black with a yellow tip. Males of the nominate subspecies and haringtoni have a variable red spot at the base of the bill, haringtoni a smaller one.
Shows a green speculum in flight.

Photo by Rakesh
Kavdi, Pune, India, November 2006

[edit] Distribution

Found on the Indian Subcontinent (including Sri Lanka) and east to Burma, extreme south China and Laos.

[edit] Taxonomy

A dabbling duck of the genus Anas. Forms a superspecies with Eastern Spot-billed Duck, Pacific Black Duck and Philippine Duck.
Two subspecies: haringtoni in East Assam, Burma, South China and Laos and the nominate poeciloryncha in the Indian Subcontinent.
Was formerly considered conspecific with Eastern Spot-billed Duck.

[edit] Habitat

Various types of wetlands, at the coast and inland. Prefers shallow water with vegetation.

[edit] Behaviour

May move seasonally.

[edit] Breeding

Breeding season variable. Usually in single pairs but may form loose small colonies. Nests in a pad of vegetation on the ground or in trees, always near water. Lays 7-9 eggs.

[edit] Diet

Feeds vegetarian, mostly seeds, parts of grasses, sedges and aquatic vegetation. Only occasionally water inscects are taken. Like other dabbling ducks this species feeds head-dipping and upending in the water.

[edit] References

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages