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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
African
yellow-billed duck, yellow-billed duck |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae
|
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Anas
(duck) undulata |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Adult
yellow-bills are streaked blackish-gray on the
head and neck regions. The dorsal (back)
feathers are typically blackish-brown and scaled
in appearance, while the lower feathers are mostly
brown or tan in color. Like the mallard,
these ducks have a metallic-green speculum bordered
by black and white edging.
|
| As
indicated by its name, the yellow-billed duck has
a bright yellow bill with a black patch and black
edging on the upper mandible. |
| FEMALE |
Females
are almost identical in appearance to males except
for a somewhat duller feather and bill coloration
and a slightly smaller size. |
|
| SIZE: |
Approximately
35 cm (14 in.) |
|
| WEIGHT: |
316-502 g (11-18 oz) |
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| DIET: |
Yellow-billed
ducks feed mainly on various types of plant matter
and occasionally on small invertebrates. |
|
| INCUBATION: |
25-26 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
7-8
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION |
6 weeks |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1-2
years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages
20-30 years |
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| HABITAT: |
Found
near or in flowing well-wooded highland streams.
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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|
| 1. |
Male
ducks are called drakes, females are hens, and young
are ducklings. |
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| 2. |
African yellow-billed ducks are typically nocturnal
foragers, feeding at dusk and after dark. |
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| These
birds are a food source for predators and also help
maintain plant growth. |
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|
|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press,
Inc., 1961. |
|
|
Gotch, A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
|
|
Johnsgard, P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the
World. Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978.
|
|
| Scott,
P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World.
Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. |
|
| Todd,
F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego,
Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
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