From Opus

Photo by mikyip
Photo taken: Deep Bay, B.C. Canada

Melanitta perspicillata

[edit] Identification

44-48cm. Black, white patches on the nape and forehead, bulbous red, yellow and white bill. The females are brown with pale head patches.

[edit] Distribution

Canada and Alaska.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic.

[edit] Habitat

Freshwater lakes, rivers, woodland and tundra.

[edit] Behaviour

The lined nest is built on the ground. 5-9 eggs are laid and are incubated for 28 to 30 days. The offspring fledge independently at about 55 days.

The diet includes crustaceans and molluscs, while the ducklings live off any variety of freshwater invertebrates.

[edit] External Links