Comb Duck
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The Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) is an unusual duck, best placed in the shelduck subfamily Tadorninae, though it has formerly been included in the Anatinae.
It breeds in the tropics in South America, sub-Saharan Africa and Pakistan even parts of India. It is largely resident, apart from dispersion in the wet season. It nests mainly in tree holes, laying 7-15 eggs.
The habitat is still freshwater swamps and lakes, where this duck feeds on vegetation by grazing or dabbling. They like to eat seeds so they become a problem to some farmers if they are in the area and are around their farms. It is very important for the comb ducks to have rain because it determines when they are going to mate and also if they are going to mate at all. This species of ducks is usually not found in any public displays due to them needed their special needs such as warm weather. They are usually found in warm areas where there is rain from time to time.
This common species is unmistakable. It has a white neck, head and underparts, and glossy blue- black upperparts. The head is freckled with dark spots. The male is larger than the female, and has a large black knob on the bill. Young birds are brown above and buff below. Both the female and male have white colored bellies. The wingspand of the male is much larger than that of a female comb duck. Baby comb ducks have a different appearance when they are younger in age. They do not resemble the parents in appearance as much. This type of duck does not like to be anywhere near where there might be humans inhabiting the area. Depending on what time of the year it is and what season will determine if they will be in small groups or in larger ones. The comb ducks usually fly together when they migrate. Sometimes the comb ducks may even separate themselves according to what sex they are into different groups. They in fact do not have much of a problem with other ducks that might be in the same area as them. The sounds made by female and male comb ducks sound somewhat different. It is common for one male duck to have more than one mating female comb duck.
The comb duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
South American birds, S. m. sylvicola, are smaller and have black flanks (light grey in Old World birds).
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
Related Web Resources: Comb Duck (Map, Photo & Info)
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