Digital Journal Element 1

24 Favorite Waterfowl species

Photos obtained from Wikipedia, Ducks Unlimited or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website.

1.  Horned Screamer

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Animidae

Anhima Cornuta

Range

 

 The Horned Screamer is found only on the continent of South America. Its range "extends from Colombia and Ecuador to south central Brazil"(Piland 2010). The bird is a permanent resident of this area and does not migrate.

Habitat

The Horned Screamer is found frequently  near water. They prefer tropical areas that provide them with lots of fresh water. "They are common along banks of rivers"(Piland 2010).

Life History

They are a cursorial species, that rarely flies. They average 6 to 7 lbs in weight. The birds are distinguished by having a horn structure on the top of their head, giving them the name "horned" screamer and two spurs located on the inside of both of their wings.  The birds undergo a gradual molt, not a yearly molt like other waterfowl.

The Screamer is a herbivorous. They wander back and forth between feeding sites "grazing and digging for plants including Hydrangea spp., eichornia crassipes, Polygonum hispidum, Paspalum diatatum, and Artemisa absinthium amoung others. "(Piland 2010). 

      

Reproduction

The Screamer is a monogamous species of birds that perform mating dances and, pair bonding behaviors. The pairs construct nests that float out of water loving plants, "such as water hyancinth"(Piland 2010). "The female lays a clutch of 2-7 eggs, with each eggs laid at 2-day intervals"(Piland 2010). The parents share incubation after the clutch is completed. "Juveniles remain with parents for at least one year"(Piland 2010). It is not known how long after the juveniles leave their parents it takes for them to achieve reproduction.

Conservation Concerns

This species is a species of least concern on the IUCN red list but, populations are declining due to habitat degradation and fragmentation.

2. Magpie Goose 

Order: Anseriformes

Family: Anseranatidae

Anseranas semipalmata

Range

The birds are found only on Australia and neighboring Pacific Islands including New Guinea (Warner 2012) 

Habitat

The Magpie goose prefers coastal wetlands including grasslands and swamps. The geese rarley leave coastal areas to move inland. (Warner 2008). 

Life History

The magpie goose weighs an average of 6.5 pounds. They can have a life span of up to 32 years. The are herbivorous, feeding mostly on seeds from various marsh plants including spike rush. The birds are prey for various species including whistling kites, white-breased sea-eagles, dingoes, water rats, goannas , and Australian brown pythons.Young are hatched after 24 to 35 days of incubation. They remain with the parents until the next breeding season. Two years after hatching the geese are sexually mature and able to form breeding groups. (Wibler 2008)

Reproduction

This species breeds yearly within the months between February to June. Magpie geese rarley breed in a single pair. They normally form groups consisting of one male and two related females.Each female lays a clutch of 3-8 eggs per season. The geese are cooperative breeders, with the two females sharing a nest and parental care with the paired male. (Wibler 2008)

Conservation Concerns

The magpie goose population is stable. It is currently listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red list. The population is currently at over 1,000,000 members. (BirdLife 2012)

3. Fulvous Whistling Duck

Order:Anseriformes

Family:Anatidae

Tribe: Dendrocygnini

Dendrocygna bicolor

Range

The Fulvous Whistling Duck is found in southern North America and, central to South America. Many of the birds are permanent residents of these areas with some of the birds migrating to Southern Texas and the surrounding areas during the summer to breed(Hohman 2001). 

Habitat

The duck prefers freshwater marshes. It frequently inhabits flooded crop lands and grazing pastures. The duck is only found in North America nesting in flooded rice fields.(Holman 2011). The population utilizes southern north america, including California, Texas, Louisiana and, Florida. The ducks breed in these areas and then migrate to Mexico and South America to winter.

  

Diet

The fulvous duck is a herbivorous dabbling species. (Zeiner 1998)They feed mostly on "grains, seeds, and green shoots of herbs.About 3 % of their diet is insects"(Zeiner 1998). The ducks are nocturnally active. They rest during the day and feed all night. They are active year round. (Zeiner 1998).

 

Reproduction 

The Fulvous duck is a ground nester. It can produce a clutch that averages 12 to 13 eggs. Both parents participate the rearing of the chicks. (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

4.  Hawaiian Goose (Nene)

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anserini

Branta sandvicensis

Range

 

The Hawaiian goose is endemic to Hawaii. It has formally bred on all of the islands of Hawaii but is now only populating Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui. (DU 2013)

Habitat

This species of goose utilize open grasslands close to the coast.

Diet

 The birds are herbivorous feeding mostly on leaves, seeds, berries, flowers, herbs and shrubs. They graze like many other species of geese.  (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

Females normally  nest in vegetated beach strands, grasslands, and volcanic substrates. She will typically lay a clutch of 3 eggs. (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

 This species is listed under the IUCN red list as a vulnerable species. The geese have low numbers because they have problems with habitat degredation and invasive predators. Predators like cats, dogs, rats and, pigs deplete NeNe nests and prevent them from breeding successfully. (IUCN)

 

5.  Aleutian Cackling Goose

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anserini

 

  Branta hutchinsii

Range

  The species is a migratory species the breeds in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands and, winters in California and Mexico. (Sibley 2000)

Habitat

 These geese migrate between their winter and breeding grounds make many stopovers.The geese utilize agricultural land and other semi-developed land. They prefer early successional plant communities with low levels of woody plants.
(DU 2013)

Diet

  They are primarily vegetarians eating old crops and, wetland plants and seeds.
(DU 2013)

Reproduction 

 Aleutian geese nest yearly in strong pairs. They lay a range of 2-8 eggs and a period of 25-28 days. (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

This species is listed under the IUCN as a species of least concern. It was recently removed from the Endangered Species list in North America and reclassified as a game species because of exploding population numbers. (IUCN)

6.  Black Brant

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anserini

 

  Branta bernicla nigracans

Range

 

 The black Brant winters along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Baja, California. It breeds in arctic North America and Russia. .There are two separate American populations one for the Pacific and Atlantic Flyways. 

Habitat

Brant geese remain close to the coast because they prefer marine plants as the main point of their diet. They prefer shallow estuaries.

Diet

 Brant geese prefer a diet of mostly eel grass.

Reproduction 

Eggs are laid in mid June. The birds have an clutch of 4 to 5 eggs. Incubation lasts an average of 23 days and goslings are fledged within 40-45 days. (IUCN)

Conservation Concerns

 The IUCN has black brant listed as a species of least concern. Although, Brant populations are in decline with major threats being habitat degradation and hunting(IUCN)

7.  Bar-headed Goose

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anserini

 

Anser indicus

Range

  The bar headed goose in native to southern Asia, wintering in India.

Habitat

 This goose prefers rocky inland wetlands and high mountain wetlands.

Conservation Concerns

 This species is listed as a species of least concern under the IUCN.

 

8.  Tundra Swan

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Cygnini

  Cygnus columbianus

Range

 

Habitat

 The tundra swan utilizes the northern tundras of Canada and Alaska. There are a few resident populations in California and other parts of the western United States.

Diet

They are a vegetarian species. They feed similar to dabbling ducks on aquatic plants. 

Reproduction 

The tundra swan forms monogamous life time pair bonds. The swan lays a clutch of 2-7 eggs and incubates by herself. The male swan keeps watch for the female. The incubation period is between 29-30 days and the babies are fledged within 45 days. (IUCN)

Conservation Concerns

 This species is a species of least concern under the IUCN.

9.  Blue Duck

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Merganettini

  Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

Range

Australia and New Zealand. 
(Planet of Birds 2013)

Habitat

This duck is a non-migratory species. This species  are freshwater river specialists. They prefer areas with high water quality and little development.
(Planet of Birds 2013)

Diet

 Their main diet consists of freshwater invertebrates.(Planet of Birds 2013)

Reproduction 

First breeding can occur at the age of 12 months. Clutch size ranges from 5 to 6 eggs. Incubation is a 35 day period . Males and females form pair bonds and share in the incubation process. Fledglings remain around until they are 70-82 days old. 

Conservation Concerns

"This species is listed as Endangered because it has a very small and severely fragmented population which is undergoing a rapid decline owing to a variety of factors, most notably the effects of introduced predators" (IUCN)

 

10.  Egyptian Goose

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Tadornini

  Alopochen aegyptiacus

Range

Habitat

 Prefers wooded habitats, largely terrestrial species

Diet

Vegetarian, eats mostly seeds leaves and stems. (IUCN) 

Reproduction 

The bird nests under dense vegetation on the ground near water

Conservation Concerns

 The species is listed as a species of least concern under the IUNC, but populations are in decline due to excessive take of the species in it's native range.

11.  Wood Duck

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anatini

 

Range

 

The duck is found over most of North America. 

Habitat

 Wood ducks use forested wetlands with lots of hardwood tree species.(DU 2013)

Diet

They eat a diet of seeds fruits and invertebrates. (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

The species is a cavity nester sometimes  nesting in nest boxes. They lay a clutch size of 12 eggs. They practice nest parasitism, so only female can have less or more than twelve eggs per clutch.   (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

 This species is listed under the IUNC as a species of least concern. It has population number that are on the rise.

12.  Mallard

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anatini

Anas platyrhynchos

Range

 

The Mallard is found extensively throughout the entire United States. The largest population of mallards is found in the Prairie Pothole region 

Habitat

 The Mallard is found extensively through out North American in a variety of wetland habitats including those close by the human development.

Diet

 Mallards are vegetarians feeding on seeds, rootlets, and tubers of aquatic plants.(DU 2013)

Reproduction 

Mallards nest in cavities or boxes. They lay an average clutch size of 9 eggs.(DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

This species is listed under the IUCN as a species of least concern. It is considered to be the most abundant waterfowl species in North America. (IUCN) 

 

13.  Cinnamon Teal

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Anatini

 

Anas cyanoptera

Range

 

  The cinnamon teal utilizes western South and Northern America. It breeds in the western United States and winters in Mexico and South America.(DU 2013)

Habitat

 This species prefers small, shallow alkaline wetlands with low cover. (DU 2013)

Diet

This duck is a dabbling duck that feeds on aquatic plants, particularly rush seeds, pondweed seeds, and salt grass. They also eat aquatic insects and mollusks.

Reproduction 

Nests in grassy areas. Lays a clutch of 8 to 10 eggs.

Conservation Concerns

Listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN list. The species is in decline though due to habitat fragmentation. (IUCN)

14.  Canvasback

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Aythyini

  Aythya valisineria

Range

 

Habitat

 Prefer permanent prairie marshes surrounded by emergents including bulrush and cattail. (DU 2013)

Diet

Omnivorous species mainly feeds off of aquatic vegetation. Switches to invertebrates and fish in times of low water quality. (Heard and King 2013)

Reproduction 

 This species is a seasonally monogamous species. They lay an average of 10 eggs per clutch. Nests are often parasitized by Redheads.

Conservation Concerns

 This species is a species of least concern on the IUCN list. The population is in decline owing to habitat degradation 

15.  Redheaded duck

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Aythyini

 

Aythya americana

Range

Habitat

These birds prefer a non forested wetland environment with permanent water coverage and dense emergent vegetation. (DU 2013)

Diet

"Redheads dive to feed on seeds, rhizomes, tubers of pondweeds, wild celery, water lilies, grasses and wild rice. They also feed on mollusks, aquatic insects and small fish." (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

This species likes to nest in dense vegetation. They lay an average clutch size of 7-10 eggs.They frequently parasitize canvasback nests.  (DU 2013) 

Conservation Concerns

  This species is a species of least concern on the IUCN. Their population numbers have been reported to be on the rise. (IUCN)

16.  King Eider

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

 

  Somateria spectabilis

Range

Habitat

 Prefer areas with vegetation adjacent to small lakes or ponds

Diet

 "King eiders dive great depths to feed on mollusks, crustaceans and aquatic insects. They also feed on eelgrass, wigeon grass and algae. There is a record of one king eider feeding on the bottom in 30 fathoms (180 feet) of water in the Bering Sea." (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

 The species is a ground nester, generally nesting in dense vegetation near Alaska. They lay an average clutch size of 4 to 5 eggs.

Conservation Concerns

  This species is considered threatened under the IUCN red list. It is listed due to chronic oil pollution.

17.  Spectacled Eider

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

  Somateria fischeri

Range

 

Habitat

These bird prefer the coastal tundra of  Alaska.

Diet

 "Spectacled eiders often feed like dabbling ducks, immersing their heads in the water and tipping up to forage. They feed primarily on mollusks and crustaceans in shallow waters and may forage on pelagic or free-floating amphipods that are concentrated along the sea-water/pack-ice interface. On coastal breeding grounds, they feed on freshwater mollusks, small crustaceans, insect larvae, grasses, berries and seeds. They utilize inland ponds and coastal shallows during brood rearing to feed on crane flies and caddis fly larvae." (DU 2013)

Reproduction

This species nests in coastal sedge meadows near tundra ponds. They lay an average of 4-5 eggs per clutch. 

Conservation Concerns

  This species is a species of least concern listed under the IUCN. The population is decreasing due to habitat fragmentation. (IUCN)

18.  Harlequin Duck

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

 

Histrionicus histrionicus

Range

Habitat

 This species prefers coastal habitats, with rocky and mountain terrains.(DU 2013)

Diet

"Harlequin ducks dive to feed on crustaceans and mollusks, insects, small fish and roe found in riverine and marine habitats." (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

Females are ground nesters, many times laying their eggs in tree cavities or on small cliffs. They have an average clutch size of 5 -6 eggs. (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

 This species is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN list. The global population of this species is in decline.

19.  Surf Scoter

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

 

Melanitta perspicillata

Range

Habitat

This species prefers shallow lakes and boreal forests in northern Canada and Alaska. 

Diet

 "The surf scoter feeds mainly on mollusks; crustaceans; aquatic insects; small fish and on green plant matter such as pondweeds, wild celery, muskgrass and the seeds of sedges and bulrushes. Rarely diving in water that exceeds 30 feet deep, they forage in the zone of breaking waves, easily diving through wave crests." (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

 This bird prefers to nest in brushy tundra near water. They lay an average of 5-8 eggs.

Conservation Concerns

  This species is listed as a species of least concern under the IUCN. The population numbers are decreasing.(IUCN)

20.  Common Goldeneye

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Megini

 

Bucephala clangula americana

Range

 

Habitat

 This species is extremly common around the United States and utilizes a variety of habitat types including inland, coastal, freshwater, and brackish water habitats. (DU 2013)

Diet

"Common goldeneyes use brackish estuarine and saltwater bays and deep freshwater habitats in the winter and dive to feed on a wide variety of available animal life. In inland areas during the summer and fall, they feed on aquatic insects, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Along coastal wintering grounds they feed largely on crustaceans, mollusks, small fishes and some plant material."(DU 2013)

Reproduction 

This species nests near water but nests can be found over a mile away from water. These birds prefer to nest in cavities and have been known to utilize nest boxes. This species lays an average of 9 eggs.

Conservation Concerns

  This species is listed as a species of lest concern on the IUCN list. The population numbers are stable.

21. Bufflehead

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

 

Bucephala albeola

Range

Habitat

 This species is found readily throughout North America. The birds prefer large lakes or major river systems. (DU 2013)

Diet

 These are diving ducks that eat a variety of plants and aquatic invertebrates.

Reproduction 

 Bufflehead utilize cavities to nest in near lakes and deep ponds associated with temperate woodlands. This species has an average clutch size of 9 eggs. (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

This species is listed as a species of least concern under the IUCN list. The population numbers are increasing. 

 

22.  Common Mergansar

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

 

Mergus merganser americanus

Range

Habitat

This waterfowl species is a river specialist. It requires permanent flowing water to maintain it's species of prey.

Diet

" Common mergansers eat mainly fish, amphibians, crustaceans, mollusks and other invertebrates obtained by diving underwater in marine and freshwater habitats." (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

This species nests in cavities and crevices near rivers in forest and mountain areas. They lay an average of 9 to 12 eggs per clutch. 

Conservation Concerns

  This species is listed as a species of least concern under the IUCN list.

23.  Hooded Mergansar

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Mergini

  Lophodytes cucullatus

Range

 

Habitat

This waterfowl species is a river specialist. It requires permanent flowing water to maintain it's species of prey. 

Diet

 "Hooded mergansers dive in fresh water to feed on small fish, crayfish and other crustaceans and aquatic insects."(DU 2013)

Reproduction 

 Hooded mergansers prefer forested wetlands. They nest in cavities and lay an average of 9-11 eggs. (DU 2013)

Conservation Concerns

  This species is listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN list.

24.  Ruddy Duck

Order: Anseriformes 

Family: Anatidae

Tribe: Oxyurini

 

Oxyura jamaicensis

Range

Habitat

 This duck utilizes inland wetland in the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, and Baja california.

Diet

 " Ruddy ducks dive to feed on pondweeds, algae and wild celery, as well as the seeds of sedges, smartweeds and grasses. They also eat aquatic insects and their larvae, shellfish and crustaceans. During the breeding season they feed mainly on invertebrates, primarily chironomid larvae and pupae." (DU 2013)

Reproduction 

"Ruddy duck females lay an average of 8 eggs and construct nests in cattail and bulrush over water." (DU 2013)

Conservation concern

 This is a species of least concern on the IUCN list.

Biblography

2010. Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor), Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=64696

Batouli, A. 2007. "Branta sandvicensis" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 28, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Branta_sandvicensis/

BirdLife International 2012. Anseranas semipalmata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 28 March 2013.

BirdLife International 2012. Crypturellus atrocapillus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 27 March 2013.

Ducks Unlimited.  Waterfowl Identification. <http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/> May 14, 2013

Heard, A. and King T. Canvasback. Humboldt State University Moodle Website.<http://learn.humboldt.edu/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=24599>

Hohman, W. L., and S. A. Lee. 2001. Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor). In The Birds of North America, No. 562 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Piland, Natalia. 2010. Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta), Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology; retrieved from Neotropical Birds Online: http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=63796

Sibley. D.A. .2000. "The Sibley Guide to Birds"  Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Wilber, R. 2008. "Anseranas semipalmata" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Anseranas_semipalmata/

Zeiner, D.C., W.F.Laudenslayer, Jr., K.E. Mayer, and M. White, eds. 1988-1990. California's Wildlife. Vol. I-III. California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California.