Introduction
Explore the fascinating diversity of duck species through concise synopses highlighting their unique characteristics, behaviors, and habitats, complemented by audio and video resources.
Fun Fact 1: Quack Quack
Did you know that the quacking sound often associated with ducks is typically made by female ducks (hens)? Male ducks (drakes) don’t quack in the same way; instead, they produce quieter, raspy calls. This quacking ability in female ducks helps them communicate with each other, especially during nesting and when they are with their ducklings. It’s a distinctive feature of their social behavior!
| Eastern Spot Billed Duck | Mallard | Wandering Whistling Duck |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| Pacific Black Duck | ||
 |
Eastern Spot Billed Duck
The Eastern Spot-billed Duck, once classified as a subspecies of the Indian Spot-billed Duck under the name A. poecilorhyncha, is recognized by its distinctive yellow bill spot. It is commonly found in lakes, ponds, wet fields, and estuaries. This large duck has a dark brown plumage with a pale head featuring a whitish eyebrow and two black stripes on its face. Even from a distance, the yellow spot on its bill is easily identifiable. In flight, its dark body contrasts sharply with white underwings.
Common Name:Â Eastern Spot Billed Duck
Scientific Name:Â Anas zonorhyncha
Image Supplied:Â Ginlimone. (2023)
Mallard
The Mallard, belonging to the Anatinae subfamily of the Anatidae family, is characterized by males sporting green heads, while females exhibit mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both genders feature a distinctive speculum on their wings—black or iridescent purple for females and a striking blue for males. Classified as a vagrant species, Mallards have a diverse diet comprising gastropods, insects, crustaceans, worms, seeds, and plant matter. They typically measure between 50 to 65 cm in length. Sightings have been recorded across various islands including Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, and Taveuni. These large ducks are commonly found in diverse habitats like city parks, backyard creeks, and wetlands, often congregating in flocks and interacting with other duck species.
Type: Vagrant. Diet: Gastropods, insects (including beetles, flies, lepidopterans, dragonflies, and caddisflies), crustaceans other arthropods, worms, many varieties of seeds and plant matter, and roots and tubers. Size: 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long.
Common Name:Â Mallard
Scientific Name:Â Anas platyrhynchos
Recorded Sightings:Â Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti – Lau – Rotuma
Image Supplied:Â NickyPe. (2016)
Wandering Whistling Duck
Whistling Ducks, distinct within the duck family, share close kinship with swans and geese. They are characterized by long necks and broad, rounded wings with notched feathers that create a distinct whirring sound during flight. Unlike many other ducks, Whistling Ducks form lifelong bonds and both sexes participate in incubating eggs and caring for ducklings.
Type: Extirpated. Diet: Grasses, waterlilies, water plants and occasionally insects and aquatic vertebrae. Size: 54–60 cm in height.
Common Name:Â Wandering Whistling Duck
Scientific Name:Â Dendrocygna arcuata
Recorded Sightings:Â Viti Levu
Image Supplied:Â JJ Harrison. (2011).
Pacific Black Duck
Usually encountered in pairs or in small flocks and can be seen almost anywhere there is water. They are frequently observed in coastal areas on mud flats or in marshy backwaters; they readily travel far up any river or creek and they are adept at locating new pools after rain. Unlike many ducks, the male and female Black Duck have the same plumage colouration. They are a rather drab dark brown duck but with a bright green iridescent green flash on the wings.
Type: Breeder. Diet: Mainly vegetarian, feeding on seeds of aquatic plants. This diet is supplemented with small crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic insects. Size: 54–61 cm.
Common Name:Â Pacific Black Duck
Scientific Name:Â Anas superciliosa
Recorded Sightings:Â Viti Levu – Vanua Levu – Taveuni – Kadavu – Lomaiviti
Image Supplied:Â Penny. (2023)
NatureFiji-MareqetiViti is Fiji’s only domestic NGO working solely for the conservation and sustainable management of Fiji’s unique natural heritage – Link
That’s all, folks! No extra info to dig into this time!
Just a quick note—no footnotes to add this time!
- 1195798 (2017). Duck, Mallard [Photograph]. Pixelbay. Link
- [Aladdin]. (2018, July 31). Mallard Anas platyrhynchos [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- Eastern spot-billed duck. (2023, August 16). In Wikipedia. Link
- Ginlimone (2023). Spot-billed duck, Anas zonorhyncha [Photograph]. Pixabay. Link
- [Josep del Hoyo]. (2015, May 2). Mallard Anas platyrhynchos [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- IUCN (2018). Spot-billed Duck [Photograph]. ICUN REDLIST. Link
- ICUN REDLIST (2018). The Red List Assessment Wandering Whistling duck [Photograph]. ICUN. Link
- ICUN REDLIST (2016). The Red List Assessment Pacific Black Duck [Photograph]. ICUN. Link
- IUCN (2016). Mallard Anas platyrhynchos [Photograph]. ICUN REDLIST. Link
- JJ Harrison. 2011. Wandering Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna arcuata). [image] Available at: Link [Accessed 17 June 2024].
- [Josep del Hoyo]. (2015, July 18). Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- Mallard. (2023, September 3). In Wikipedia. Link
- Mercer, A. 2020. Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa) with ducklings. [image] Available at: Link [Accessed 17 June 2024].
- Merlin. “Eastern Spot-billed Duck.” Ebird. Accessed June 17, 2024. Link.
- Merlin. “Mallard.” Ebird. Accessed June 17, 2024. Link.
- Merlin. “Wandering Whistling-Duck.” Ebird. Accessed June 17, 2024. Link.
- Merlin. “Pacific Black Duck.” Ebird. Accessed June 17, 2024. Link.
- [Nicholas Talbot]. (7, June 6). Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- NickyPe (2016). Duck, Mallard [Photograph]. Pixelbay. Link
- Pacific black duck. (2023, August 3). In Wikipedia. Link
- Penny. 2023. Pacific black duck. [image] [Accessed 17 June 2024].
- [Robert Humphries]. (2019, May 21). Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata [Video]. Macaulay Library. Link
- [Ramit Singal]. (2020, May 28). Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa [Audio]. Macaulay Library. Link
- [Sara Young]. (2019, January 2). Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata [Audio]. Macaulay Library. Link
- Wandering whistling duck. (2022, October 2). In Wikipedia. Link
- [Wonseok Jang]. (2021, June 11). Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha [Audio]. Macaulay Library. Link