- Aythya collaris
Identification
When in flight, both male and female shows a grey stripe on flight feathers.
Male
- Grey bill with white band
- Black head which when breeding looks shiny purple
- Highest point of head far behind eye
- White belly
- Yellow eyes
- Back looks black in the field
- White "spur" between breast and sides
- Field guides mention a cinnamon-colored ring around the neck that probably can only be seen in the hand
Female
- Brown head and body, sides of body paler than rest
- White belly visible in flight
- Dark bill with more subtle markings compared to male
- Brown eyes
- White eye-ring may extend behind eye as a stripe
Similar Species
The very similar Tufted Duck shows white in the wing.
Distribution
Breeds in Canada and north west United States; mostly vacates breeding area in winter, migrating to southern USA and Central America, being rare but regular in Panama and a vagrant in South America. Occurs as a vagrant with some regularity in Europe[2][3][4][5].
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeding on freshwater marches, wooded lakes, rivers and ponds, also found in coastal habitats in winter.
Behaviour
Diet
Includes aquatic plants, invertebrates, and small fish.
Breeding
The nest is found on dry land but near water. It is bowl-shaped, built with aquatic vegetation and lined with down. The female lays 8 to 10 eggs.
References
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
- Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
- Ridgely & Gwynne 1989. Birds of Panama. Princeton Paperbacks. ISBN 0691025126
- Beaman, M., S. Madge, K.M. Olsen. 1998. Fuglene i Europa, Nordafrika og Mellemøsten. Copenhagen, Denmark: Gads Forlag, ISBN 87-12-02276-4
- National Geographic Society. 1987. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Washington DC: National Geographic Society.
- Wikipedia
External Links