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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
marbled
teal, marbled duck |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Marmaronetta
(marble duck) angustirostris (narrow or small-billed) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Marbles
teals are medium-sized ducks. In color, this species
is creamy-white and spotted with grayish brown.
The wings are brown with pale secondaries, and the
tail a light brown. Both sexes lack the metallic
wing speculum seen in other teals. |
| FEMALE |
Both
the male and female are more or less similar in
appearance. However, females have a shorter crest
and paler eye stripe. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately
31-40 cm (12.5-16 in) long; wingspan 55-60 cm (22-24
in) |
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| WEIGHT: |
168-448 g (6-16 oz.) |
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| DIET: |
Feeds
on insects, seeds, and aquatic plants |
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| INCUBATION: |
Approximately 25 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE: |
9-12
eggs |
| FLEDGING
DURATION: |
25-30
days |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
1-2 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages
20-30 years |
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| RANGE: |
Found
in southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle-East |
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| HABITAT: |
Inhabits
fresh water lakes and ponds, brackish pools and
marshes |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Early
1990's estimates of between 9,000-19,000 birds |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not
listed |
| CITES |
Deleted
off the list in 1977 |
| USFWS |
Vulnerable |
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| 1. |
Males
are called drakes, females are hens, and young are
ducklings. |
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| 2. |
Scientists
had considered marbled ducks to be one of the dabbling
ducks for many years, but the birds have been moved
in with the pochards, due to their display behavior
and lack of a speculum. |
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| 3. |
Teals
are good swimmers and divers. However, they rarely
dive for food, rather they dive to hide from a predator. |
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| Though
not considered endangered, recent estimates of between
9,000-19,000 birds show a rapid decline from the
estimated 34,000-40,000 birds as recently as 1991.
Field researchers argue about the accuracy of these
numbers though. The reason for such a decline is
due to habitat destruction and mismanagement of
water resources. |
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|
|
| Austin,
G. Birds of the World. New York. Golden Press,
Inc., 1961. |
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| Gotch,
A.F. Birds - Their Latin Names Explained.
UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
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| Johnsgard,
P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978. |
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| Reader's
Digest. Book of North American Birds. Reader's
Digest Association, Inc. Pleasantville, New York,
1990. |
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| 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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http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=
SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=467&m=0 |
|
http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/directive/
birdactionplan/marmaronettaangustirostris.htm |
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