Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) lives in freshwater marshes across Southeastern United States. It feeds on aquatic plants insects. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Mottled Duck
- A full-grown mottled duck measures about the length of a school ruler, spanning 44-61 cm (17-24 in) from beak to tail. Males tip the scale at 30.9-43.8 oz (880-1,240 g) and spread their wings 83-87 cm (32.7-34.3 in), while females are slightly lighter at 24.7-40.6 oz (700-1,150 g) with a wingspan of 80-83 cm (31.5-32.7 in). These concrete dimensions place the duck in the medium-sized category.
- Mottled ducks lay a clutch of eight to twelve eggs, each about the size of a small chicken egg, 5.4-6.2 cm (2.1-2.4 in) long and 4.1-4.5 cm (1.6-1.8 in) wide. The female builds a round depression in grass for the nest, then incubates the dull white-to-olive eggs until they hatch after roughly a month. This reproductive output, combined with a single breeding season each year.
- Oil spills threaten the mottled duck's marsh home in the Gulf. Experts warned that species living in Louisiana's marshes, including the mottled duck, could simply vanish as the spill's hidden toll unfolds. While hundreds of oiled birds have been recovered, the unseen deaths of marsh-dwelling birds may erase entire local populations, highlighting how a single environmental disaster can erase a species that already occupies a limited, non-migratory range.
- Only one in twenty mottled ducks gets a leg band, making each tagged bird a rare trophy for hunters.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSoutheastern United States
HabitatFreshwater marshes
DietAquatic plants insects
About the Mottled Duck
In the warm, golden light of dawn, the Mottled Duck glides effortlessly across the tranquil waters of its native wetlands, its mottled brown plumage blending seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. With a subtle flick of its tail, it navigates the dense vegetation, its webbed feet paddling softly as it searches for aquatic delights to savor. As it moves, its gentle quacks echo through the misty air, a soothing serenade that underscores the serene and unhurried nature of this enchanting creature.
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