From Opus

Photo by Forcreeks
Milwaukie, Oregon, USA

Aix sponsa

[edit] Identification

43-51cm Male:

• Metallic blue and head and upperparts
• Thin white lines on head
• White chin and throat
• Sides of neck and breast dark reddish-brown, with white specks
  

Female and Eclipse

• Greyish-brown upperparts
• Brownish underparts with pale flank spots
• White eyering and throat
  

Both sexes have a crest

[edit] Similar Species

Mandarin Duck:

[edit] Distribution

Inland waters of Canada to northern Mexico, Cuba and the Bahamas.

Most European sightings are of escapes from ornamental collections.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes or ponds.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

The nest in tree cavities, near water and will readily take to nest boxes. From 9 to 14 eggs are laid. The young jump to the ground a day after hatching.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes berries and seeds, also insects.

[edit] Vocalisation

Flight call (female): High-pitched aaankh aankh aaankh

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. Wikipedia
3. Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6

[edit] External Links