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When it comes to ducks, everybody sees the spider with an interesting form of a beak. In fact, these birds are practically no different from themselves, only the habitat, breeding patterns and some other aspects differ. But we will not rush, laying out all the cards. We will understand the main subtleties in turn, so that you can make your own impression.
Habitat
Species of the presented species can be found in different parts of the world, be it Turkey or the British Isles. They are also found in all parts of the United States of America, throughout the Atlantic coast, in the expanses of our homeland.
Shirokonoski love the Czech Republic, Iceland, Austria, Serbia. However, they prefer to nest in warmer countries, such as forever sunny Spain or romantic France.In the winter go to African countries and a little less - in Australia.
It is worth mentioning that not every individual of the represented breed group belongs to migratory birds. If birds already live in mild climatic regions, they do not need to go anywhere in the winter season.
Prefer to be in the steppes and forest belts, that is, everywhere where there is a rich vegetation. Ducks equally like both salty and fresh water sources. However, they require stranded, for this reason, some birds are noticed in the rice fields.
Not to the liking of the represented individuals of the river, as well as lakes, which have sufficient depth and flow. A maximum record was recorded at which a duck dived 12 meters under water. Agree, impressive, with the condition that they prefer small fry.
External data
These individuals can not quickly take off due to the fact that their legs are located near the tail. Some ignorant people often confuse the sparrow with gogol and red headed dive. But these are different subspecies, it is worth considering their features.
The length of the hull duck grows up to half a meter. The neck is short, the head is shallow, so the beak seems bulky.
Sex differences
Even an ignorant person will be able to distinguish a male from a female. The drafts are painted, that is, they have several distinct shades in their plumage. They become most striking before mating, when the mating season begins. Males need to win the females, so they appear in front of them in all its glory.
The representatives of the male gender have a greenish head, there is a redhead on the sides of the body, and the sternum is whitish or very light. The beak of males is slightly blacker than that of females.
The color of the paws is the same for both males and females. As for the shade of female representatives, they are rather brown and motley with a certain number of dark points. The wings are bluish-gray, the nose is brown, but may be greenish.If you compare two individuals, the male is brighter.
When the cold season comes to an end, and the warm season comes to replace it, the ducks are practically compared by their external data. They are very difficult to distinguish, except to pay attention to the voice. In drakes, he will be frequent, while females barely speak.
Breeding
- The process of reproduction of offspring may begin even in the period of migration. The drake begins to show itself in every way at its best, swimming around its female. Often, after the flight already formed pairs are formed. Therefore, mating dance can not always be observed.
- Often there is such that in the first year the individuals in question after the flight do not rush to reproduce offspring. Often, drakes can show themselves in all their glory in front of other females. Birds often start to build a nest on land. At the same time, they try to do this near water bodies.
- The main thing for them is that the construction of the nest takes place in thick bushes or tall grass. Thus, the birds can hide their offspring from the attempts of predators.The nest is a small hole in the ground. The bottom of the dwelling is made of dried grass and its own fluff.
- In most cases, females lay no more than 10 eggs. Sometimes this amount may be more. The process of vidiche offspring occurs over a period of 20 days. At this time, the female does not leave the nest. All other duties and the protection of offspring falls on the drake.
- Other birds from the group of predators often hunt for chicks. After the birth of young light prefers to be in the water for a long time. At this time, the parents transfer to the chicks all their accumulated knowledge. In addition, the young gradually begins to independently produce their own food.
Sharpener Facts
- It is worth noting the fact that the birds present exclusively live in calm waters. Therefore, you will not find such individuals in the turbulent and fast rivers. Birds simply avoid such places.
- Also characteristic feature of the noon is that they have a much higher speed in flight than their relatives. Such ducks do not tend to accelerate on the surface, they immediately rise up. At the same time, individuals fly at a decent height.
- Only in rare cases of the considered individuals adhere to schooling existence. Birds unite only during long-haul flights. Such ducks swim in pairs, or in flocks of not more than 20 individuals.
From the name of individuals of this variety, we can conclude that all representatives belong to the duck family. They feel great in the aquatic environment, some are very deeply immersed.
Video: Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
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