Psilos Wildfowl Photography |
Falcated Teal (Anas falcata) |
Also known as Falcated duck. This
duck was originally from eastern Asia but large collections of these
birds privately owned has clouded its range. It is a dabbling duck that
nests on the ground, near water and under the cover of taller vegetation.
The male is one of the most beautiful ducks you will ever see. It is
not hard to see why ornithologists think that it is related to the carolina
woodduck and mandarin. The two photos of the male bird below shows how
the iridesence on his head can change according to light levels and
the angle of the head. |
 |
 |
Courtship takes place during February/March
when the males breeding plumage is at its best. Head butting between
males (shown below) is part of the ritual for superiority. The display
consists of a series of grunts and whistles accompanied by the puffing
out of the chest and the dipping of the head into the water. |
 |
 |
 |
The female lays 6-10 creamy white eggs and incubates
them for around 26 days. The male will also help with this and with
looking after the ducklings whilst they are very young. Females are
fertile from one year old. The photos below show juveniles. |
 |
 |
