sp Full-range Bird Products!Green Tips & Products
Pet Bird Web | Breeder's Web | Birding / Wildlife Web | Home & Health Avianweb: Contact / Home

Resources

The Impact of Plastic Waste on our Oceans

Bird Species

Marbled Duck or Marbled Teal

Duck Information ... Duck Species ... Photo Gallery

Books / CDs about Ducks, Geese and Other Fowl (USA, Canada, German, UK)

Marbled Duck


Marbled DuckThe Marbled Duck, or Marbled Teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris), is a medium-sized duck. It used to be included among the dabbling ducks, but is now classed as a diving duck.

These are gregarious birds, at times even when nesting. Outside the breeding season flocks are often small, although large wintering flocks have been reported in some areas.


Distribution / Range

This duck formerly bred in large numbers in the Mediterranean region, but is now restricted to a few sites in southern Spain and northwest Africa.

In the east it survives in Iran (Shadegan Marshes - the world's most important site), as well as isolated pockets in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Iraq.

Its breeding habitat is lowland, shallow fresh waters. In some areas birds disperse from the breeding grounds, and have been encountered in the winter period in the Sahel zone, south of the Sahara.

This bird is considered vulnerable due to a reduction in population caused by habitat destruction. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Marbled Duck


Marbled DuckDescription

The Marbled Duck is approximately 39-42 cm long.

Adults are a pale sandy-brown colour, diffusely blotched off-white, with a dark eye-patch and shaggy head.

Juveniles are similar but with more off-white blotches.

In flight, the wings look pale without a marked pattern, and no speculum (= distinctive wing patch) on the secondaries.


Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org.




Diet / Feeding:

Marbled ducks feed mainly in shallow water by dabbling or up-ending, occasionally diving. Other than that, little is known about their diet.

Ducks generally feed on larvae and pupae often found under rocks, as well as aquatic animals, plant material, seeds, small fish, snails and crabs.

Feeding Ducks ...

We all enjoy ducks and many of us offer them food to encourage them to come over and stay around - and it works! Who doesn't like an easy meal!

However, the foods that we traditionally feed them at local ponds are utterly unsuitable for them and are likely to cause health problems down the road. Also, there may be local laws against feeding this species of bird - so it's best to check on that rather than facing consequences at a later stage.

  • Click here to find out which foods to feed them that will offer the nutrition they need to survive a cold winter and remain healthy



Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info

The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!

Bird Watching Products


Cameras: The Latest Styles at Great Prices!

Bird Houses / Nesting Boxes: From Build-Your-Own to Collectibles and Practical Easy-Care Nest Boxes

Books and Movies for Kids


Electronics

Environmentally safe, non-toxic products for your home:



Home | © Copyright 2006 AvianWeb LLC - Disclaimers | For questions or comments, please contact Website Administrator: Sibylle Faye

All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. The Avianweb assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.