(References updated) |
(Picture of Female & Male SAm subspecies. Immature 'galleried'. References updated) |
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| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
'''Includes Knob-billed Duck''' | '''Includes Knob-billed Duck''' | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | [[Image:Comb Duck female on right.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Female, Subspecies ''sylvicola''<br />Photo by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Jaén, Cajamarca, [[Peru]], January 2017]] | ||
American: 64–79 cm (25-31 in); African: 55–63 cm (21-25) | American: 64–79 cm (25-31 in); African: 55–63 cm (21-25) | ||
*Glossy blue black upperparts | *Glossy blue black upperparts | ||
| Line 9: | Line 10: | ||
*White head with dark spots | *White head with dark spots | ||
*White neck<br /> | *White neck<br /> | ||
| − | + | ||
'''Male''' - larger with large black knob on the bill<br /> | '''Male''' - larger with large black knob on the bill<br /> | ||
'''Juvenile''' | '''Juvenile''' | ||
| Line 15: | Line 16: | ||
*Dull brown upperparts, crown and eyestripe | *Dull brown upperparts, crown and eyestripe | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| + | [[Image:13368RAK3472 c d.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Male, Subspecies ''melanotos''<br /> Photo by {{user|Rakesh|Rakesh}}<br />Pashan Pune, [[India]], March 2007]] | ||
Sub-Saharan [[Africa]], [[Madagascar]], south [[Asia]], [[Pakistan]], [[Laos]] and extreme southern [[China]]. | Sub-Saharan [[Africa]], [[Madagascar]], south [[Asia]], [[Pakistan]], [[Laos]] and extreme southern [[China]]. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 24: | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
====Subspecies==== | ====Subspecies==== | ||
| − | |||
There are 2 subspecies subspecies:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | There are 2 subspecies subspecies:<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup> | ||
*''S. m. melanotos'' | *''S. m. melanotos'' | ||
| Line 35: | Line 36: | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
====Diet==== | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | [[Image:Comb Duck Male.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Male, Subspecies ''sylvicola''<br />Photo by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br />Jaén, Cajamarca, [[Peru]], January 2017 ]] | ||
The diet for both subspecies is mostly vegetarian, with grass, seeds and rice grain; supplemented with small fish and invertebrates. | The diet for both subspecies is mostly vegetarian, with grass, seeds and rice grain; supplemented with small fish and invertebrates. | ||
====Breeding==== | ====Breeding==== | ||
They nest in tree holes and tall grass. The nest is lined with reeds, grass, or feathers. 7-15 yellowish-white eggs are laid; incubated by the female for about 30 days. | They nest in tree holes and tall grass. The nest is lined with reeds, grass, or feathers. 7-15 yellowish-white eggs are laid; incubated by the female for about 30 days. | ||
| + | ==Gallery== | ||
| + | Click on photo for larger image | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:Comb Duck 6549 les.jpg|Young Male, subspecies ''sylvicola'' <br />Photo by {{user|Dave+B+Smith|Dave B Smith}}<br />[[Trinidad]], July 2010 | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | #{{Ref- | + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug16}}#{{Ref-Hockeyetal05}}#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015) |
{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
Revision as of 19:52, 10 February 2017
- Sarkidiornis melanotos
Includes Knob-billed Duck
Identification
American: 64–79 cm (25-31 in); African: 55–63 cm (21-25)
- Glossy blue black upperparts
- White underparts
- Blue and green iridescent secondaries
- White head with dark spots
- White neck
Male - larger with large black knob on the bill
Juvenile
- Dull buff underparts, face and neck
- Dull brown upperparts, crown and eyestripe
Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, south Asia, Pakistan, Laos and extreme southern China.
Also eastern Paraguay, southeastern Brazil, northeast of Argentina.
Has been reported as a vagrant on Trinidad.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies subspecies:[1]
- S. m. melanotos
- Tropical Africa, Madagascar and Pakistan to southern China
- S. m. sylvicola
- Tropical South America (east of the Andes)
The species is sometimes split with sylvicola as Comb Duck and melanotos as Knob-billed Duck.
Habitat
Wetlands, freshwater swamps, rice fields and lakes.
Behaviour
Diet
The diet for both subspecies is mostly vegetarian, with grass, seeds and rice grain; supplemented with small fish and invertebrates.
Breeding
They nest in tree holes and tall grass. The nest is lined with reeds, grass, or feathers. 7-15 yellowish-white eggs are laid; incubated by the female for about 30 days.
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Young Male, subspecies sylvicola
Photo by Dave B Smith
Trinidad, July 2010
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Hockey, PAR, WRJ Dean, and PG Ryan, eds. 2005. Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa. 7th ed. Cape Town: John Voelcker Bird Book Fund. ISBN 978-0620340533
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2015)
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Comb Duck. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Comb_Duck
External Links
