Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
A common and widespread duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of Canada, Alaska and the mid-western United States. This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters further south than its breeding range, as far as the equator. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large mixed flocks with other ducks. The breeding male has a pale grey body, white breast and lateral neck stripe, and dark brown head. The vent region is buff and black, and it has the long pointed tail that gives the species its English and scientific names. The female is light brown with a whiter throat, and its pointed tail is shorter, but it is still easily identified by its shape, long neck, and long all grey bill. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake Pintail looks more like the female. The species is fairly large for a duck, but is light for its size; males range from 65 to 75 cm in length, while females are smaller at 50 to 55 cm. The Northern Pintails is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or tundra, and feeds by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. During the nesting season, this bird also eats aquatic insects, mollusks and crustaceans. It sometimes feeds on grasses and seeds in fields. The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground lined with plant material and down, in a dry location that may be fairly far from water. Courtship often includes aerial pursuit of a single female by several males. The male has a Teal-like whistle, whereas the female has a Mallard-like quack.
Spoon Bill(Platalea leucorodia)
A long-necked long legged snow-white marsh bird with black legs and a distinctive large flat black and yellow spoon shaped bill. A pale yellowish brown patch is on fore neck. Feeds actively in the morning and evening. A flock wades into shallow water and with outstretched necks and obliquely held partly open bills. They move forward sweeping in a halt circle from side to side and raking up the bottom with tip of the lower mandible. Feeds on Tadpoles, frogs, mollusks, insects and vegetable matter. Nesting season is December to March.
Common crane(Grus grus)
Also known as the Eurasian Crane. It is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane at 100-130 cm (40-52 in) long, with a 180-240 cm (71-96 in) wingspan and a weight of 4.5-6 kg (10-13.2 lbs). It is grey with a white facial streak and a bunch of black wing plumes. Adults have a red crown patch. It has a loud trumpeting call, given in flight and display. It has a dancing display, leaping with wings uplifted. It is a long distance migrant wintering in Africa (south to Morocco and Ethiopia), southern Europe, and southern Asia (south to northern Pakistan and eastern China). Migrating flocks fly in a V formation.
Gadwall(Anas strepera)
A common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae. Wide spread winter visitor. The Gadwall is 46-56 cm long with a 78-90 cm wingspan. The breeding male is a beautifully patterned grey, with a black rear end and a brilliant white speculum, obvious in flight or at rest. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.The females are light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard. They can be distinguished from that species by the dark orange-edged bill, smaller size, and lack of an obvious speculum. The Gadwall is a bird of open freshwater wetlands, wet grassland or marshes with dense fringing vegetation, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food with head submerged. It nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It is not as gregarious as some dabbling ducks outside the breeding season and tends to form only small flocks. This is a fairly quiet species; the male has a hoarse whistling call, and the female has a Mallard-like quack. The young birds are fed insects at first; adults also eat some mollusks and insects during the nesting season.
Wigeon / Eurasian Wigeon(Anas penelope)
A common and widespread duck, winter visitor. This dabbling duck is 42-50 cm long with a 71-80 cm wingspan. The breeding male has grey flanks and back, with a black rear end and a brilliant white speculum, obvious in flight or at rest. It has a pink breast, white belly, and a chestnut head with a yellowish crown stripe. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.The female is light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard. The Wigeon is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or marshes with some taller vegetation, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing, which it does very readily. It nests on the ground, near water and under cover. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. This is a noisy species. The male has a clear whistle, whereas the female has a low growl.
Bar Headed Geese (Anser indicus)
It is a goose which breeds in Central Asia in colonies of thousands near mountain lakes. It lays 3-8 eggs in a ground nest. The preferred summer habitat is high altitude lakes where the bird grazes on short grass. The Bar-headed Goose migrates over the Himalayas to spend the winter in India, Assam, Northern Burma and the wetlands of Pakistan. The winter habitat of the Bar-headed Goose is on cultivation, and the bird feeds on barley, rice and wheat, and may damage crops. The Bar-headed Goose is believed to be the highest flying bird having been seen at up to 10175 m (33,382 feet). It has a slightly larger wing area for its weight than other geese. It is believed this helps the goose to fly so high.
Common Snipe or Fantail Snipe(Gallinago gallinago)
A small, stocky shorebird. The breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows in Iceland, the Faroes, northern Europe and Russia. Common Snipe nest in a well-hidden location on the ground. Adults are 23-28 cm in length with a 39-45 cm wingspan. They have short greenish-grey legs and a very long straight dark bill. The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye, with light stripes above and below it. The wings are pointed.These birds forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material. The male performs winnowing display during courtship, flying high in circles and then taking shallow dives to produce a distinctive sound. This well camouflaged bird is usually shy and conceals itself close to ground vegetation and flushes only when approached closely. They fly off in a series of aerial zig-zags to confuse predators. Snipe hunters, therefore, needed to be very skilled to hunt these birds and they came to be called snipers - a term later adopted by the military.
Black winged kite (Milvus migrans) (including Pariah Kite)
A medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards, and harriers. European and central Asian birds (subspecies M. m. milvus and M. m. lineatus respectively) are migratory, moving to the tropics in winter, but races in warmer regions such as the Indian M. m. govinda (Pariah Kite) is resident.Black Kites will take small live prey as well as fish, household refuse and carrion. They are well adapted to living in cities and are found even in densely populated areas. They are attracted to fires and smoke where they seek escaping insect prey. Large numbers may be seen soaring in thermals over cities. In some places they will readily swoop to take to food offered by humans, their habit of swooping to pick up dead rodents from roads often leads to them being hit by vehicles.The Black Kite nests in forest trees, often close to other kites. In winter, many kites will roost together.
Imperial eagle (Aquila heliaca)
A very similar to the Golden Eagle, but a little smaller (length 80 cm, wingspan 200 cm). Imperial Eagles are distributed in South East Europe, West and Central Asia. In the winter this eagle migrates to Africa, India and China. The eagles preferred habitat is open country with small woods unlike some other eagles, it does not live in mountains, large forests or treeless steppes. The nest is built in trees, which are not surrounded by other trees, so these nests are visible from a long way off, and the eagles may overlook the surroundings. Tree branches are taken in order to build the nest, which is upholstered with grass and feathers. In March or April the female lays two or three eggs. After 45 days the youngs are hatching. Often just one young will leave the nest, while the other(s) die before becoming fully-fledged. This eagle feeds mainly on susliks (a kind of ground squirrel), and in addition on other rodents, martens, foxes and birds.
Hen harrier(Circus cyaneus)
bird of prey of the harrier family. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the Northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA and northern Eurasia, it migrates to more southerly areas in winter. Hen Harriers will roost communally in winter, often with Merlins.This medium-sized raptor breeds on moorland, bogs and (in Europe) farmland. In winter it is a bird of open country. This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. The male is grey above and white below, with black wingtips. The female is brown above with white upper tail coverts, hence females and the similar juveniles are often called ringtails. Her underparts are buff streaked with brown. Hen Harriers hunt small mammals and birds, surprising them as they drift low over fields and moors. The Harriers flight follows the contours of the land below it. The nest of this species is on the ground. Four to six whitish eggs are laid.
Starling
They are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. Starlings have strong feet, their flight is strong and direct, and they are very gregarious. Their preferred habitat is fairly open country, and they eat insects and fruit. Several species live around human habitation, and are effectively omnivores. Many species search for food by opening the bill after probing it into dense vegetation; this behavior is called "open-bill probing". Plumage is typically dark with a metallic sheen. Most species nest in holes, laying blue or white eggs. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent plumage.
Yellow headed gray wagtail- Citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
It is a slender, 15.5-17 cm long bird, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. The breeding adult male is basically grey above and bright yellow below, with a yellow head. In other plumages, the yellow underparts may be diluted by white, and the head is browner. This species breeds in north central Asia in wet meadows and tundra. It nests on the ground, laying 4-5 speckled eggs. It migrates in winter to south Asia, often to highland area. Its range is expanding westwards, and it is a rare but increasing vagrant to western Europe.This is an insectivorous bird of open country near water, such as wet meadows and bogs.
White wagtail(Motacilla alba)
A small passerine in the wagtail family Motacillidae, which also includes the pipits and longclaws. This species breeds in much of Europe and Asia and parts of north Africa. It is resident in the mildest parts of its range, but otherwise migrates to Africa. This is an insectivorous bird of open country, often near habitation and water. It prefers bare areas for feeding, where it can see and pursue its prey. In urban areas it has adapted to foraging on paved areas such as car parks. It nests in crevices in stone walls and similar natural and man-made structures. This is a slender bird, 16.5-19 cm in length, with the characteristic long, constantly wagging tail of its genus. The nominate subspecies Motacilla alba alba is basically grey above and white below, with a white face, black cap and black throat.
White necked stork-(Ciconia ciconia asiatica)
It is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae, breeding in the warmer parts of Europe (north to Estonia), northwest Africa, and southwest Asia (east to southern Kazakhstan). It is a strong migrant, wintering mainly in tropical Africa, down to the south of South Africa, and also in the Indian Subcontinent.It is a huge bird, 100-125 cm (40-50 in.) tall, with a 155-200 cm (61-79 in) wingspan and a weight of 2.3-4.5 kg (5-10 lbs). It is completely white except for the black wing flight feathers, and its red bill and legs, which are, however, black on juveniles. It walks slowly and steadily on the ground. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.
Black Stork(Ciconia nigra)
A large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It is a widespread, but rare, species that breeds in the warmer parts of Europe, predominantly in central and eastern regions. This is a huge bird, nearly 1 m tall with a 1.8 m wingspan. It is all black except for the white belly and axillaries, and its red bill and legs. It walks slowly and steadily on the ground. Like all storks, it flies with its neck outstretched.It breeds in large marshy wetlands with interspersed coniferous or broadlived woodlands, but inhabits also hills and mountains with sufficient network of creeks. It builds a stick nest high in trees. This is a shy and wary species, unlike the closely related White Stork. The Black Stork, feeds mainly on fish and also amphibians and insects. This stork has a rasping call, but rarely indulges in mutual bill-clattering when adults meet at the nest.
Steppe eagle(Aquila nipalensis)
A large bird of prey. It is about 62-74 cm in length and has a wingspan of 165-190cm. The European and Central Asian birds winter in Africa, and the eastern birds in India. It lays 1-3 eggs in a stick nest in a tree.Throughout its range it favours open dry habitats, such as desert, semi-desert, steppes, or savannah. This is a large eagle with brown upperparts and blackish flight feathers and tail. This species is larger and darker than the Tawny Eagle, and it has a pale throat which is lacking in that species.Immature birds are less contrasted than adults, but both show a range of variation in plumage colour. The eastern race A. n. nipalensis is larger and darker than the European and Central Asian A. n. orientalis. The Steppe Eagle diet is largely fresh carrion of all kinds, but it will kill rodents and other small mammals up to the size of a rabbit, and birds up to the size of partridges. It will also steal food from other raptors. The call of the Steppe Eagle is a crow-like barking, but it is rather a silent bird except in display.
Greater spotted eagle (Aquila clanga)
Spotted Eagle is a large bird of prey. It is about 65 cm in length and has a wingspan of 160cm. It breeds from northern Europe across Asia, and winters in southeastern Europe, the Middle East and south Asia. This eagle lays 1-3 eggs in a tree nest. This is a species of fairly wooded country, which hunts small mammals and similar, mainly terrestrial prey. This is a medium-large eagle, very similar to the Lesser Spotted Eagle, which shares part of its range in general appearance. Its head and wing coverts are very dark brown and contrast with the generally medium brown plumage (Lesser Spotted has pale head and wing coverts). The head is small for an eagle. There is often a less obvious white patch on the upperwings, but a white primary crescent is a good field mark. The juvenile has white spots in the wings. The call is a dog-like yip.
Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)
A small stocky wader. Their breeding habitat is marshes, bogs, tundra and wet meadows with short vegetation in northern Europe and northern Russia. They nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, laying 3-4 eggs. Jack Snipes are migratory, wintering in Great Britain, Atlantic and Mediterranean coastal Europe, Africa, and India. These birds forage in soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms, also plant material. They are difficult to see, being well camouflaged in their habitat. Adults are smaller than Common Snipe and have relatively shorter bill. The body is mottled brown on top and pale underneath. They have a dark stripe through the eye. The wings are pointed and narrow, and yellow back stripes are visible in flight. The male performs an aerial display during courtship, and has a song like a galloping horse. It is silent in winter. Jack Snipe can be secretive on their wintering grounds, and as a result are difficult to observe. As a result of this, birdwatchers have developed a specialised technique for finding the species. This involves walking through its marshy habitat until a bird is disturbed and flies up. Jack Snipe will squat down and not flush from cover until the intruder is within a metre of the bird. They then fly a short distance before dropping back into vegetation.
Black headed gull (Larus ridibundus)
They are typically medium to large birds, usually grey or white, often with black markings on the head or wings. They have stout, longish bills, and webbed feet. Gull species range in size from the Little Gull, at 120 g (4.2 oz) and 29 cm (11.5 inches), to the Great Black-backed Gull, at 1.75 kg (3.8 lbs) and 76 cm (30 inches).Most gulls, particularly Larus species, are ground nesting carnivores, which will take live food or scavenge opportunistically. The live food often includes crabs and small fish. Apart from the kittiwakes, gulls are typically coastal or inland species, rarely venturing far out to sea. The large species take up to four years to attain full adult plumage, but two years is typical for small gulls. Gulls, the larger species in particular are resourceful and highly-intelligent birds, demonstrating complex methods of communication and a highly-developed social structure - for example many gull colonies display mobbing behaviour, attacking and harrassing would-be predators and other intruders.
Brown headed gull ( Larus brunnicephalus)
It is a small gull which breeds in the high plateaux of central Asia from Turkmenistan to Mongolia. It is migratory, wintering on the coasts and large inland lakes of tropical southern Asia. This gull breeds in colonies in large reedbeds or marshes, or on islands in lakes, nesting on the ground. Like most gulls, it is highly gregarious in winter, both when feeding or in evening roosts. This is a bold and opportunist feeder, which will scavenge in towns or take invertebrates in ploughed fields with equal relish. The Brown-headed Gull is slightly larger than Black-headed Gull. The summer adult has a pale brown head, lighter than that of Black-headed, a pale grey body, and red bill and legs. The black tips to the primary wing feathers have conspicuous white mirrors. The underwing is grey with black flight feathers. The brown hood is lost in winter, leaving just dark vertical streaks. This bird takes two years to reach maturity. First year birds have a black terminal tail band, more dark areas in the wings, and, in summer, a less homogeneous hood. This is a noisy species, especially at colonies.
Booted Eagle(Aquila pennata Syn: Hieraaetus pennatus)
A medium-sized bird of prey. It is about 47 centimeters 18inches in length and has a wingspan of 120 cm almost 4 feet. It breeds in southern Europe, North Africaand across Asia. It is migratory, wintering in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. This eagle lays 1-2 eggs in a tree or crag nest. This is a species of wooded, often hilly countryside with some open areas. It hunts small mammals, reptiles and birds. The Booted is a small eagle, comparable to the Common Buzzard in size though more eagle-like in shape. Males grow to about 700 grams (1.5 lbs) in weight, with females close to 1 kilogram (over 2 lb). There are two relatively distinct plumage forms. Pale birds are mainly light grey with a darker head and flight feathers. The other form has mid-brown plumage with dark grey flight feathers. The call is a shrill kli-kli-kli.
Grey lag Goose (Anser anser)
A bird with a wide range in the Old World, pre-Linnean times known as the Wild Goose (Anser ferus). This species is the ancestor of domesticated geese in Europe and North America. Flocks of feral birds derived from domesticated birds are widespread. The Greylag is a large goose, 74–84 cm (29–33 in) long with a 149–168 cm (59–66 in) wingspan and a body weight of 2.3–5.5 kg (5–12 lbs). It has a large head and almost triangular bill. The legs are pink, and the bird is easily identified in flight by the pale leading edge to the wing. It has a loud cackling call, kiYAAA-ga-ga, like the domestic goose.The western European nominate subspecies, A. a. anser, has an orange-pink bill and is slightly smaller and darker than the pink-billed Asian race, A. a. rubrirostris. The geese are migratory, moving south or west in winter, but Scottish breeders, some other populations in northwestern Europe, and feral flocks are largely resident. This species is one of the last to migrate, and it is thought that greaylag signifies in English late, last, or slow, as in laggard, a loiterer, or old terms such as lagman, the last man, lagteeth, the posterior molar or wisdom teeth (as the last to appear), and lagclock, a clock that is behind time. Thus the Greylag Goose is the grey goose, which in England when the name was given, was not strongly migratory but lagged behind the other wild goose species when they left for their northern breeding quarters.
Ruff and Reeve (Philomachus pugnax)
A medium-sized wader. Female called reeve. Their breeding habitat is bogs, marshes and wet meadows with short vegetation in northern Europe and Russia. Ruff are migratory, wintering in southern and western Europe, Africa and India. They are highly gregarious, with a wintering flock of 1 million birds reported in Senegal. These birds nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, laying 3-4 eggs. The males display at a lek during the breeding season, standing erect, crouching or taking a variety of postures with the ruff erected. They may jump into the air. They are silent while displaying and when not breeding. These birds forage in wet grassland and soft mud, probing or picking up food by sight. They mainly eat insects and earthworms. Ruffs have a distinctive gravy boat appearance, with a small head and medium bill, longish neck and pot-bellied profile. Males are larger than females. They have longish usually yellowish legs, and show white ovals on the tail sides in flight. Males are 29-32 cm long with a 54-60 cm wingspan. Breeding males grow the most individually distinctive breeding plumages of any wild bird, and recognize each other as individuals by plumage differences. They can have black, chestnut or white neck ruffs and head tufts, made up of solid, barred or irregularly colored feathers (see images below). Their backs are grey-brown and the underparts white except for the black breast. Females, also called reeves, are 22-26 cm long with a 46-49 cm wingspan. They are grey-brown above and white below. Females nest alone and provide all parental care. In winter, both sexes are a paler grey above and white below and can be differentiated only by size. Young birds have browner more scaly upperparts and are buffy below.
Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia)
A small shorebird, 18-20 cm long. Their breeding habitat is near fresh water across most of Canada and the United States. They migrate to the southern United States and South America, and are very rare vagrants to western Europe. These are not gregarious birds and are seldom seen in flocks.Adults have short yellowish legs and an orange bill with a dark tip. The body is brown on top and white underneath with black spots. The Acititis species have a distinctive stiff-winged flight low over the water. Spotted Sandpipers nest on the ground. Females may mate with more than one male, leaving incubation to them. These birds forage on ground or water, picking up food by sight. They may also catch insects in flight. They eat insects, crustaceans and other invertebrates. As they forage, they can be recognized by their constant nodding and teetering
Green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
A small wader (shorebird). Its only close relative in the genus Tringa is the Solitary Sandpiper, they both have brown wings with little light dots, and a delicate but contrasting neck and chest pattern. In addition, both species nest in trees, breeds across subarctic Europe and Asia. It is a migratory bird, wintering in southern Europe and Asia, and tropical Africa. This is not a gregarious species, although sometimes small numbers congregate in suitable feeding areas. Green Sandpiper is very much a bird of fresh water, and is often found in sites too restricted for other waders, which tend to like a clear all-round view. This species is a dumpy wader with a dark green back, greyish head and breast and otherwise white underparts. The back is spotted white to varying extents, being maximal in the breeding adult, and less in winter and young birds. The legs and short bill are both dark green. It is obvious in flight, with wings dark above and below, and a brilliant white rump. In flight it has a characteristic three-note whistle. Green Sandpiper lays 2-4 eggs in an old tree nest of another species, such as a Fieldfare. The eggs take about three weeks to hatch. Food is small invertebrate items picked off the mud as this species works steadily around the edges of its chosen pond.
Spotted Red shank (Tringa erythropus)
A wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders, more robustly built. This is an Arctic bird, breeding across Scandinavia and northern Asia. It is a migratory species, wintering around the Mediterranean and in south Asia, usually on fresh water. This species nests on open boggy taiga, laying four eggs in a ground scrape.The Spotted Redshanks is 29-33 cm long. It is black in breeding plumage, and very pale in winter. It has a red legs and bill, and shows a white oval on the back in flight. Juveniles are brown above and have uniformly barred underparts. The Spotted Redshank is replaced as a breeding bird further south by the Common Redshank, which has a shorter bill and legs, and is brown above and white with some dark patterning below, becoming somewhat lighter-toned in winter. The breeding song is a creaking whistle teu-hu, the alarm call a kyip-kyip-kyip. Like most waders, it feed on small invertebrates.
Common Redshank or Redshank (Tringa totanus)
A wader in the large family Scolopacidae, the typical waders. These are a group of smallish shanks which tend to have red or reddish legs, and in breeding plumage are generally a subdued, light brown above with some darker mottling, with a pattern of somewhat diffuse small brownish spots on the breast and neck. This is a widespread breeding bird across Europe and northern Asia. It is a migratory species, wintering on coasts around the Mediterranean, in south Asia, and on the Atlantic coast of Europe from Great Britain southwards. It is replaced in the Arctic by the Spotted Redshank, which has a longer bill and legs, and is almost entirely black in breeding plumage and very pale in winter. Redshanks have red legs and bill, and show white up the back and on the wings in flight. They are brown, becoming somewhat lighter-toned in winter. Redshanks will nest in any wetland, from damp meadows to saltmarsh, often at high densities. They lay 3-5 eggs. These are wary and noisy birds which will alert everything else with their loud piping call. Like most waders, they feed on small invertebrates.
Little stint(Calidris minuta or Erolia minuta)
It is a very small wader. It breeds in arctic Europe and Asia, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia. It occasionally is a vagrant to North America. It is gregarious in winter, sometimes forming large flocks with other Calidris waders, particularly Dunlin, on coastal mudflats or the edges of inland pools. Its small size, fine dark bill, dark legs and quicker movements distinguish this species from all waders except the other dark-legged stints. It can be distinguished from these in all plumages by its combination of a fine bill tip, unwebbed toes and long primary projection. The call is a sharp stit. The breeding adult has an orange wash to the breast, a white throat and a strong white v on its back. In winter plumage identification is difficult. Juveniles have pale crown stripes and a pinkish breast. This bird nests on a bare ground scrape laying 3-5 eggs. It is polygamous, and male and female may incubate separate clutches. Food is small invertebrates picked off the mud.
Little ringed plover(Charadrius dubius)
Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill. The legs are flesh-coloured and the toes are all webbed. This species differs from the larger Ringed Plover in leg colour, the head pattern, and the lack of an obvious yellow eye-ring. Their breeding habitat is open gravel areas near freshwater, including gravel pits, islands and river edges in Europe and western Asia. They nest on the ground on stones with little or no plant growth.They are migratory and winter in Africa. These birds forage for food on muddy areas, usually by sight. They eat insects and worms.
White tailed lapwing(Vanellus leucurus)
It is a wader in the lapwing genus. It breeds semi-colonially on inland marshes in Iraq, Iran and southern Russia. Four eggs are laid in a ground nest. The Iraqi and Iranian breeders are mainly residents, but Russian birds migrate south in winter to south Asia, the Middle East and north east Africa. This elegant medium-sized lapwing is long-legged and fairly long-billed. It is the only lapwing likely to be seen in other than very shallow water, where it picks insects and other small prey mainly from the surface. Adults are slim erect birds with a brown back and foreneck, paler face and grey breast. Its long yellow legs, pure white tail and distinctive brown, white and black wings make this species unmistakable. Young birds have a scaly back, and may show some brown in the tail. The breeding season call is a peewit, similar to Northern Lapwing.
Spot Billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)
It is a dabbling duck which breeds in tropical and eastern Asia. These are Mallard-sized mainly grey ducks with a paler head and neck and a black bill tipped bright yellow. The wings are whitish with black flight feathers below, and from above show a white-bordered green speculum and white tertials. The male has a red spot on the base of the bill, which is absent or inconspicuous in the smaller but otherwise similar female. Juveniles are browner and duller than adults. It is a bird of freshwater lakes and marshes in fairly open country and feeds by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. It nests on the ground in vegetation near water, and lays 8-14 eggs. Both the male and female have calls similar to the Mallard.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
It is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south. In captivity, Mallards come in wild-type plumages, white, and other colours. Most of these colour variants are rare but increasing in domestic collections. The dabbling duck is 56–65 cm length, with an 81–98 cm wingspan, and weighs 750–1,000 g. The breeding male is unmistakable with a green head, black rear end and a yellow bill with a black tip (as opposed to the females dark brown bill in females). The female Mallard is light brown, like most female dabbling ducks; however, both the female and male Mallards have distinct blue speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest (though temporarily shedded during the annual summer molt). In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake becomes drab, looking more like the female, but still distinguishable by its bill, which remains yellow and its breast is more reddish.The Mallard inhabits most wetlands, including parks, small ponds and rivers, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing; there are reports of it eating frogs. It usually nests on a river bank, but not always near water. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female the quack always associated with ducks. Mallards form pairs only until the female lays eggs, at which time she is left by the male. The clutch is 8–13 eggs, which are incubated for 27–28 days to hatching with 50–60 days to fledging. The ducklings are precocial, and can swim and feed themselves on insects as soon as they hatch, although they stay near the female for protection. Young ducklings are not naturally waterproof and rely on the mother to provide waterproofing. Mallards also have rates of male-male sexual activity that are unusually high for birds. When they pair off with mating partners, often one or several drakes will end up left out. This group will sometimes target an isolated female duck chasing, pestering and pecking at her until she weakens a phenomenon referred to by researchers as rape flight, at which point each male will take turns copulating with the female. Male Mallards will also occasionally chase other males in the same way.
Red Crested Pochard (Rhodonessa rufina) (Syn. Netta rufina)
This group of ducks is so named because its members feed mainly by diving, although in fact the Netta species are reluctant to dive, and feed more like dabbling ducks. These are gregarious ducks, mainly found on fresh water or on estuaries, though the Greater Scaup becomes marine during the northern winter. They are strong fliers; their broad, blunt-tipped wings require faster wing-beats than those of many ducks and they take off with some difficulty. Northern species tend to be migratory; southern species do not migrate though the Hardhead travels long distances on an irregular basis in response to rainfall. Diving ducks do not walk as well on land as the dabbling ducks; their legs tend to be placed further back on their bodies to help propel them when underwater.
