Thursday, 18 March 2021
Wednesday, 17 March 2021
Monday, 15 March 2021
15-3-2021 RIO JUCAR RIOLA, VALENCIA - MALLARD (MALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)
Male mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are easily recognized by their iridescent green heads, narrow white neck rings, and bright yellow bills. Weighing between 0.9 and 1.4 kg with a wingspan up to 95 cm, these dabbling ducks are also famous for their curled black tail feathers.
Key Physical & Behavioral Facts
Identification: Drakes (males) have a rich chestnut-brown breast, pale grey flanks, and bright orange legs. Both sexes feature a striking purple-blue speculum (wing patch) bordered by white.
Vocalization: Unlike females, which make the classic loud quack, male mallards are much quieter, producing soft raspy notes or short whistles, particularly during courtship.
Diet & Foraging: As omnivorous dabblers, they feed on aquatic plants, seeds, insects, and small fish by tipping forward in shallow water to forage. They do not dive completely underwater.
Flight: Mallards are incredibly strong fliers, reaching speeds up to 88 km/h (55 mph) during migration.
Ancestry: The mallard is the ancestor of nearly all domestic duck breeds (excluding the Muscovy duck).
Breeding & Lifecycle
Courtship: Males perform elaborate displays, including head-pumping, wing-shaking, and whistling to attract females during the breeding season.
Parenting: Male mallards are strictly monogamous during the breeding season but do not assist with incubation or raising the ducklings; they leave these duties entirely to the female and gather in bachelor flocks to molt.
15-3-2021 RIO JUCAR RIOLA, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN MOORHEN (Gallinula chloropus)
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The common moorhen, known scientifically as Gallinula chloropus, is a bird of the rail family, Rallidae. It is a bird of striking appearance, with a mix of black and brown plumage, a white under-tail, and white streaks along its flanks. Its legs are a vibrant yellow, and it sports a distinctive red frontal shield. The bill is a matching red with a yellow tip. Juveniles are a duller brown and do not have the red shield.
Adult moorhens can be identified by their red frontal shield, which has a rounded top and fairly parallel sides. The tailward margin of the red unfeathered area is smoothly curved. Their yellow legs and the combination of their black and brown plumage with white markings make them quite distinctive. The young are browner and lack the red shield, making them less conspicuous.
Sunday, 14 March 2021
Saturday, 13 March 2021
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