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The Waterfowl Identification Project
Nichole Fields
Professor Robert Swatski
Biology 130
November 16, 2012 (Fields, 2012)
(Fields, 2012)
Project Overview:
My project consisted of studying three
different species of waterfowl over a course of
several weeks. These species included the
Canada Goose, the Mallard, and a Mallard
hybrid. All of my research was done at a lake
located in the city of York. The lake is located
on a sort of man made island but is
surrounded by buildings, noise, pollution, and
people. However, all three species seem to
thrive in this habitat with plenty of shelter to
offered to them among trees, and an abundant
natural food supply, as well as, whatever
scraps humans throw to them. While there I
studied each of the species behavior, habitat,
and interaction with the urban environment. I
combined and compared this information with
some thorough research.
A familiar and widespread goose that has a black head and neck with a white chinstrap. The chest is cream in color and its back is brown (“Canada Goose,” 1). The Canada Goose is a common breeder from interior Canada and Alaska south through most of the U.S., nesting near wetlands of many sorts, even in urban settings (Brinkley, 58). It winters on farmland, in wetlands, and even on golf courses (Brinkley, 58).
The Canada GooseBranta canadensis(Fields, 2012)
Behavior: Canada Geese feed by dabbling in the water or grazing in fields and large lawns (“Canada Goose,” 1). They are often seen
in flight moving in pairs or flocks. The flocks often assume a “V” formation (“Canada Goose,” 1).
Habitat: Just about anywhere near lakes, rivers, ponds, or other small or large bodies of water, and in yards, park lawns, and farm
fields (“Canada Goose,” 1).
Breeding: Canada Geese mate for life, and pairs remain together throughout the year (“Canada Goose,” 1). They mate
“assortatively,” meaning larger birds choose larger mates, and smaller ones choose smaller mates (“Canada Goose,” 1). The male is
usually larger than the female, and most Canada Geese do not mate until they are four years of age (“Canada Goose,” 1).
(Fields, 2012)
Both sexes have a white-bordered, blue
“speculum” patch in the wing (“Mallard,” 1).
Behavior: Mallards are “dabbling ducks,”
meaning they feed in the water by tipping
forward and grazing on underwater plants
(“Mallard,” 1). They almost never dive, and
are very tame ducks especially in city ponds,
and often when grouped together with other
species of dabbling ducks (“Mallard,” 1).
Habitat: Mallards can live in almost any
wetland habitat, natural or artificial
(“Mallard,” 1).
Breeding: Mallard pairs are generally
monogamous, but paired males pursue
females other than their mates (“Mallard,”
1). The pairing takes place in the fall, but
courtship can be seen all winter (“Mallard,”
1). Only the female incubates the eggs and
takes care of the young (“Mallard,” 1).
The Mallard Anus platyrhynchos
(Fields, 2012)
The male, or drake, is more distinctively
colored in the mallards (“Mallard Duck,” 1).
The male Mallard has a dark, iridescent-
green head and a bright yellow bill
(“Mallard,” 1). The gray body is located
between a brown breast and a black rear
(“Mallard,” 1). The males are territorial
during much of the incubation period, but
later on leave the nest and join a flock of
other males (“Mallard Duck,” 1).
(blmiers2, 2012)
Females and juveniles are mottled
brown with orange and brown bills
(“Mallards,” 1). When making a nest,
the female forms a shallow depression
or bowl in moist ground, and pulls any
vegetation that she can reach toward
her while sitting on the nest (“Mallard,”
1). Females normally lay about a dozen
eggs, and the incubation period lasts
about a month (“Mallard Duck,” 1). After
incubation begins, the female plucks the
feathers from her breast to line the nest
and cover her eggs (“Mallard,” 1).
(Haslam, 2007)
Mallards like other ducks, shed all their
flight feathers at the end of the breeding
season and are flightless for 3-4 weeks
(“Mallard,” 1). They are secretive during
this vulnerable time, and their body
feathers molt into a concealing “eclipse”
plumage that can make them hard to
identify (“Mallards,” 1).
(Fields, 2012)
Waterfowl crossbreed more than any other
family of birds (Cross, 1). Scientist have
recorded more than 400 hybrid combinations
among waterfowl species. Mallards crossbreed
with nearly 50 other species (Cross, 1). Nearly
20 percent of waterfowl hybrid offspring are
capable of reproducing (Cross, 1). In general,
hybridization is rare because each waterfowl
species has unique characteristics that serves
as barriers to interspecies mating (Cross, 1).
These characteristics include distinct physical
attributes, behaviors, life-history
requirements, and an unique ecological niche
the species occupies (Cross, 1). But breeding
grounds and territories of many waterfowl
species overlap presenting opportunities for
interspecies to mate (Cross, 1).
(Fields, 2012)
The Mallard Hybrid…..
Hybridization can potentially lead to the extinction of species (Cross, 1). A process known as introgressive
gene flow occurs when individuals of two species mate and produce offspring, which then mate with the
sensitive parent species, and essentially contaminate the pure genes of that species (Cross, 1). Mallards are
highly aggressive breeders, and several cases involving mallard hybridization with closely related species
(Cross, 1). Mallards are highly aggressive breeders, and there are several cases involving mallard
hybridization with closely related species present waterfowl biologists with conservation challenges (Cross,
1).
(Fields, 2012)
Many waterfowl hybrids may be unable to attract
a mate because they are not recognized by
individuals of either parent species as their own
kind (Cross, 1). Hybrids often exhibit
intermediate physical characteristics and
behaviors that render them unable to attract a
mate (Cross, 1). Male hybrids in particular, may
not have the ability to perform courtship rituals
necessary to establish and maintain pair bonds
(Cross, 1).
(Fields, 2012)
Works Cited:
Brinkley, Edward. Field Guide to Birds of North America. National Wildlife Federation. New York: Sterling, 2007.
Print.
“Canada Goose.” All About Birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. n.d. Web.
5 Oct.2012. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/lifehistory.
“Canada Goose Branta Canadensis.” National Geographic Society. n.d. Web.5 Oct.2012. <http://
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/canada-goose/>....
Cross, Jennifer. “Waterfowl Hybrids.” Ducks Unlimited. n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012. http://
www.ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-biology/waterfowl-hybrids.
“Mallard.” All About Birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012. http://
www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mallard/id.
“Mallard Duck Anus platyrhynchos.” National Geographic. National Geographic Society. n.d. Web. 5 Oct.
2012. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/mallard-duck/.
Works Cited: Images
Blmiers2. “Male Mallard.” Photograph. Flickr.Yahoo. 22 Jan. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Ducks 1.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Ducks 2.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Canada Goose 1.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Canada Goose 2.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Couple.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Ducks 3.” Photograph. 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Hybrid 1.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Hybrid 2.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Fields, Nichole. “Mallard Hybrid 3.” Photograph. 22 Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Haslam, John. “Female Mallard, rear view.” 18 Oct. 2007. Web. 16 Nov. 2012.
Works Cited: Video
“Geese Fly Together.” 15 Sept. 2009. YouTube. Web. 16 Nov.
2012.
“Mallard Duck.” 13 Oct. 2011. YouTube. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.
“Mallard Hybrids Filmed at Jubilee Lakes on 02/04/12.” 4 Apr.
2012. YouTube. Web. 1 Dec. 2012.