2-3-2022 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - FERRUGINOUS DUCK (FEMALE) (Aythya nyroca)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7055-Aythya-nyroca

18-9-2018 TABLAS DE DAIMIEL, LA MANCHA - FERRUGINOUS DUCK (FEMALE) (Aythya nyroca)

The Ferruginous Duck, known scientifically as Aythya nyroca, is a medium-sized diving duck hailing from the vast expanses of Eurosiberia. The males are adorned with a rich, dark chestnut plumage on their heads, breasts, and flanks, which is set off by the stark white of their undertail coverts. When in flight, their white bellies and underwing patches become conspicuous. Females present a more subdued palette, being duller and browner. A notable feature of the male is its yellow eye, while the female's eye is dark.

To identify the Ferruginous Duck, look for the male's distinctive yellow eye and rich chestnut coloring. In contrast, the female will have a dark eye and a browner hue. When the bird takes to the air, observe the white belly and underwing patch that become visible, aiding in its identification.

The Ferruginous Duck shows a preference for shallow freshwater bodies teeming with rich submerged and floating vegetation. The margins of these waters are often densely populated with emergent vegetation. While it may occasionally inhabit saline or brackish pools or wetlands, during migration and wintering, it is also known to frequent coastal waters, inland seas, and large open lagoons.

This duck's breeding range stretches from Iberia and the Maghreb eastward to western Mongolia, and southward to Arabia. However, in the western part of its range, it has become scarce and localized, with some countries reporting local extirpation. In winter, the species disperses throughout the Mediterranean Basin and the Black Sea, with some migrating into sub-Saharan Africa via the Nile Valley. Eastern populations winter in South and Southeast Asia.

Ferruginous Ducks are sociable, yet they are less so than other species within the Aythya genus. In regions where they are common, they may form large flocks in the winter, often mingling with other diving ducks like tufted ducks and common pochards. They begin pairing from January, and during courtship, males may exhibit a tail-curling behavior that dips the tail into the water, highlighting the white undertail coverts. They may form colonies in protected areas, such as islands, sometimes alongside gulls, or nest singly in more concealed locations when less common.

The nesting period commences at the end of April or the start of May. Nests are constructed on the ground near water or occasionally as floating structures amidst emergent vegetation. The incubation of eggs spans 25–27 days, and the young take 55–60 days to fledge.