Freckled duck beak

myminifactory

The freckled duck, or Stictonetta naevosa, is a waterfowl species that can be found in Australia only. The freckled duck has also been known as the monkey duck or the oatmeal duck. These birds are typically present in mainland Australia, but they disperse to coastal and subcostal wetlands during dry periods. During these times, it's common for the freckled duck population to gather in flocks in the same area, giving the impression that they're more common than they actually are. The freckled duck population is at risk of further decline due to habitat destruction, droughts, and hunting. Often, habitat destruction and drought can lead to an increase in hunting, as the freckled duck is forced to disperse into more coastal ranges where they may not be recognized as a protected species. In recent decades, several institutions have established breeding programs to help supplement the freckled duck population. These institutions include Hunter Wetlands Australia, Slimbridge Wetlands, Melbourne Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Adelaide Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. The success of these institutions has been variable, with some failing to establish self-sustaining colonies. The freckled duck has a distinctive appearance. In adults, it's characterized by dark grey to black plumage covered with small white flecks, which gives the duck its "freckled" look. Both sexes have slate grey feet, legs, and bills. Hatchlings and juveniles are distinguished by uniform light grey plumage, which they lose around their 32nd week when they undergo a full body molt to assume the adult plumage. Adult freckled ducks display several sexual dimorphisms, including size. On average, males are larger than females, weighing between 700-1200g. Females weigh slightly less, ranging from 600-1200g. Both sexes have a length of 50-60 cm. During the breeding season, particularly, males are characterized by the base of their culmen, which takes on various shades of red. Those in prime reproductive condition take on deep red coloring, while other males may only develop lighter shades or no color at all. Deep red coloring is also associated with dominance, and those with the deepest red are likely to breed with females in the group. Click on this link to read about the "Mark My Bird" project: http://data.nhm.ac.uk/dataset/955c0fd6-2b96-46ed-b6f9-9060100cf825.