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.