waterfowl-sidebar Archives - British Waterfowl Association https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/tag/waterfowl-sidebar/ Conservation, Education and Preservation Wed, 09 Aug 2023 11:28:05 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 Why should I care about genetics? https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/domestic-waterfowl/why-should-i-care-about-genetics/ Wed, 30 Dec 2020 10:22:14 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=12540 The answer has to be that if you breed waterfowl with a view to obtaining birds of a particular type, then, like it or not, you are applying genetics. You are accepting that your birds are able to pass on features (in the form of genes) to their offspring, and that, by breeding only from […]

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The answer has to be that if you breed waterfowl with a view to obtaining birds of a particular type, then, like it or not, you are applying genetics. You are accepting that your birds are able to pass on features (in the form of genes) to their offspring, and that, by breeding only from those birds with the characteristics you want, you will ‘improve’ the next generation. By getting your head round some of the basic principles, you can save yourself a lot of time and hassle by realising what is or is not possible. If you are purchasing birds, you should be confident that the breeder has applied basic principles so that the birds you are buying are as you expect.

All domestic animals have been developed from wild ancestors by human intervention. Our domestic ducks, with the exception of Muscovies, are descended from the wild Mallard. The differences we see now have come about by mutations — random, rare changes in genes from those producing mallard characteristics, which humans have seized upon to breed selectively. In the wild, odd genes would disappear into the mass or the birds carrying them would be easy prey to predators, but in captivity they have been artificially selected for, and not only maintained, but combined in new ways, resulting in the wide range we see today.

So how does it work? Each living thing has a number of pairs of chromosomes in each cell of its body, carrying thousands of genes — in sexually reproducing organisms, one set from each parent. Usually for any particular character, a gene is received from the mother and a corresponding gene is received from the father. Different versions of a gene are called alleles. Taking the simplest possible scenario, if these two alleles are the same, (called homozygous) there is no problem, the alleles will decide the feature and will show in that organism. If they are not the same (heterozygous), there are two possibilities. Often, one allele (the dominant one) will show itself (be expressed) and the other (recessive) will be hidden.

Cayuga ducks
Cayuga group — Simon James

For example, the black colour seen in Cayugas, Black East Indians and others is caused by an allele that is dominant over the normal wild-type colour. If we use the letter E to represent the black, and e⁺ to represent the recessive wild (⁺) colour, we can see that a black duck could be either EE or Ee⁺, but a wild colour bird could only be e⁺e⁺. When these birds go on to breed, the homozygous black (EE) can only pass on E alleles, the wild type can only pass on e⁺ alleles, but the heterozygous can pass on E or e⁺ alleles. Thus, it would be quite possible that two black ducks could produce wild-type offspring (unless you could be sure at least one parent was EE) but virtually impossible for two wild-type birds to produce black offspring.

Chocolate and Black Forest Ducks
Chocolate and Black Forest group — Aaron Van Cauwenberge

In other situations, one allele is not dominant over the other, so that if the alleles are different (heterozygous), the result is a form like neither parent but somewhere between, or different from either. This is called co-dominance. An example of this is blue colour, as in the Blue Swedish, where the blue results from two alleles being different, the homozygous situations giving Black and Lavender. Only 50% of offspring from two Blue Swedish will be like their parents. The only way to get 100% Blue is to cross a Black with a Lavender! Thus, it will never be possible to breed pure Blue Swedish, and it actually raises the question about whether this can be considered a true breed at all. A get-out here is that the inheritance in blue birds is at least predictable, and a proportion of the offspring from a pair are the same as their parents!

The single gene situation is not the norm — many characteristics are the result of a number of genes acting together, often one gene modifying the effect of another (such as dilution genes), so that it is often far harder to see the underlying principles at work. In addition, since there are colour differences between male and female ducks, there is the added complication of sex-linkage.

Blue Swedish drake — Morag Jones

Only 22 mutations in domestic ducks have been described so far — there is obviously much more work to do. Mike Ashton has given much more detail of the mechanisms of inheritance of some of these genes, in his articles in Waterfowl and in his and Chris’s book, The Domestic Duck. I am not proposing to repeat his work here, but to urge duck breeders to think about the mechanisms underlying their breeding programmes, to try applying some basic principles and to share information with others to add to the body of knowledge available. It would be especially useful to keep track of the numbers of different forms obtained from particular pairings.

Black Magpie Calls — challenging to get right.

There are two possible issues arising from a lack of regard or understanding of the underlying principles. Sometimes all colours of Calls, for example, are run together. Offspring are chosen which happen to correspond to show standard criteria for a particular colour for exhibition and sale and a great disservice is being done to that colour. In all probability the birds will have a number of recessive alleles which are not expressed but will show up in successive generations. In other words, despite appearances, they are cross-bred and will not breed true.

Another issue is from random crossing, where a colour of duck appears which is novel and which the breeder likes. It is easy to assume to assume that, by successive breeding and selection, eventually a pure-breeding line can be produced. In all probability, the ‘new’ colour only exists when a gene or probably genes, are heterozygous, in other words ‘split’, and a pure-breeding form will never be possible. 

So, if you’ve never thought about the mechanism of inheritance in this way, give it a go. It can make sense of what you see happening and certainly adds interest to the breeding side of the hobby.

Geoff Chase & Llŷr Davies

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]]> Domestic Geese https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/domestic-waterfowl/domestic-geese/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:43:52 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=584 Geese have always had the reputation of being guardians of the farmyard but, for breeders and waterfowl keepers, they have a wider use as pure breeds for exhibition, 'lawn mowers' and pets. Geese - the original auto-mowers Well reared, geese are responsive, intelligent birds and deserve a better reputation than they are often given. Greylag […]

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Geese have always had the reputation of being guardians of the farmyard but, for breeders and waterfowl keepers, they have a wider use as pure breeds for exhibition, ‘lawn mowers’ and pets.

Geese - the original auto-mowers

Well reared, geese are responsive, intelligent birds and deserve a better reputation than they are often given.

Greylag goose standing on ice
Greylag Goose - Morag Jones

Although the ancestors of the domestic geese are supposed to be two distinct species, the domestic geese related to the Greylag and the Swan Goose do interbreed. These crosses have produced the different breeds of Russian geese such as the Tula, Asamas and Kholmogory, plus the beautiful Blue Steinbacher Goose recently imported into the UK from Germany.

Out of the 16 standardised breeds, only four – the Brecon Buff, Shetland and arguably the Pilgrim and West of England – are indigenous to the UK.

Heavy breeds presently standardised are:

  • African
  • American Buff
  • Embden
  • Toulouse

Medium breeds presently standardised are:

  • Brecon Buff
  • Buff Back and Grey Back
  • Pomeranian
  • West of England

Light breeds presently standardised are:

  • Chinese
  • Czech
  • Franconian
  • Pilgrim
  • Roman
  • Sebastopol
  • Shetland
  • Steinbacher

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]]> Domestic Ducks https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/domestic-waterfowl/domestic-ducks/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:41:15 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=581 With the exception of the Muscovy, all domestic ducks are believed to be descendants of the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. As pets, table birds or for exhibition, there's a duck for everyone - Morag Jones Even in the wild Mallard, there is variation in shape, size and plumage. This is what enables the evolution of the […]

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With the exception of the Muscovy, all domestic ducks are believed to be descendants of the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos.

As pets, table birds or for exhibition, there's a duck for everyone - Morag Jones

Even in the wild Mallard, there is variation in shape, size and plumage. This is what enables the evolution of the species: mutation and natural selection. Under domestication, the process is much more rapid. Humans have selected characteristics resulting from specific mutations and encouraged such birds to breed. This has been going on for thousands of years resulting in the wide variety of domestic breeds seen today.

Cayuga Ducks - Simon James

Domestic ducks are classified into a number of sections – Heavy, Light, Bantam, Runner and Call. The most popular domestic duck today is probably the Call Duck. Its small size lends itself to being kept in a relatively small space, it requires less food than other breeds and there is a wide range of available colours.

Runner Ducks are hugely popular - Julian Burrell

To keep domestic ducks it is not necessary to have a large pond, although it is advisable to have a suitable water container in which the birds can bathe and mate. Consideration should be given as to how the water is changed – there are plenty of wide shallow plastic troughs available which can easily be emptied and moved around to prevent one spot becoming too muddy.

All ducks love fresh water - Rosemary Sharpe

Domestic waterfowl are happier being shut in at night than most wildfowl. This housing reduces (but does not eliminate) the risk of predation.

A white bib often pops up when wild Mallard become ‘tainted’ with domestic blood.

Sadly, many unwanted pets ‘find’ themselves on our natural waterways and hybridise with wild birds. Please rehome unwanted birds responsibly.

‘Heavy Ducks’ are those which generally weigh over 3 kg in the duck and 3.5 kg in the drake. 

Heavy breeds presently standardised are:

  • Aylesbury
  • Blue Swedish
  • Cayuga
  • Muscovy
  • Pekin
  • Rouen
  • Rouen Clair
  • Saxony
  • Silver Appleyard

Light breeds presently standardised are:

  • Abacot Ranger
  • Bali
  • Campbell
  • Crested
  • Hook Bill
  • Magpie
  • Orpington
  • Welsh Harlequin

Indian Runner colours presently standardised are:

  • White
  • Fawn
  • Blue Dusky
  • Apricot Dusky
  • Mallard
  • Trout
  • Blue Trout
  • Apricot Trout
  • Silver
  • Fawn & White
  • American Fawn & White
  • Black
  • Chocolate
  • Cumberland Blue

Bantam breeds presently standardised are:

  • Black East Indian
  • Crested Miniature
  • Silver Appleyard Miniature
  • Silver Bantam

Call Duck colours presently standardised are:

  • Mallard
  • Blue Mallard
  • Apricot Mallard
  • Silver
  • Blue Silver
  • Apricot Silver
  • Mallard Dusky
  • Khaki
  • Blue Dusky
  • Apricot Dusky
  • Black
  • Chocolate
  • Appleyard
  • Apricot Appleyard (Butterscotch)
  • Bibbed
  • Magpie
  • Mallard Pied
  • White
  • Yellow Belly

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]]> True Ducks https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/wildfowl/true-ducks/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:35:29 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=569 Seven tribes, two of which only have one member (they are monophyletic), are included in the subfamily Anatinae — the true ducks. Although it can seem confusing that something once routinely called a goose is actually a duck, their genetic heritage has only been revealed relatively recently. Some commonly-used terms fall naturally together — they […]

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Seven tribes, two of which only have one member (they are monophyletic), are included in the subfamily Anatinae — the true ducks. Although it can seem confusing that something once routinely called a goose is actually a duck, their genetic heritage has only been revealed relatively recently. Some commonly-used terms fall naturally together — they are polyphyletic. Scroll down to see the tribes.

Sea Ducks and allies

Sea ducks, the Mergini, are well adapted to marine life but the majority do nest inland. This tribe includes birds such as eiders, goldeneyes and mergansers. These ducks do need more protein than most. There are several specialised diets available. Diversity of foodstuffs provides an element of choice and can be enriching. Some birds may need different protein levels at different times of the year or when they move home. Eiders in particular are almost exclusively carnivorous.

Steller’s Eider

Spectacled Eider

King Eider male swimming

King Eider

Common Eider

Harlequin Duck

Surf Scoter on water flapping its wings

Surf Scoter

Velvet Scoter

White-winged Scoter

Stejneger’s Scoter

Common Scoter

Black Scoter

Longtailed drake at sea with nice reflections

Long-tailed Duck

Bufflehead

Common Goldeneye

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Smew drake in breeding plumage

Smew

Hooded Merganser drake swimming

Hooded Merganser

Brazilian Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Scaly-sided Merganser

Shelducks and Sheldgeese

Shelducks and sheldgeese, the tribe Tadornini, inhabit every continent except North America and Antartica but are mainly found in the southern hemisphere. They are not best suited to a starter’s wildfowl collection due to their territorial nature and temperament.

Shelducks are more aquatic than sheldgeese, eating vegetation and invertebrates, such as small molluscs. They form strong pair bonds and are highly territorial. Both male and female are quarrelsome. Common Shelduck can be introduced to a mixed collection but most of the other species tend to be aggressive, especially during the breeding season.

Sheldgeese are essentially vegetarian whereas shelducks are more omnivorous. They spend considerable time ashore and some species regularly perch in trees. Sheldgeese form strong pair bonds, possibly for life. Many breeders are put off keeping them as both male and female are inclined to fight. They may kill other waterfowl, and as a result, you should anticipate housing sheldgeese as separate pairs.

Egyptian Goose

Orinoco Goose standing on a wall

Orinoco Goose

Andean Goose

(Lesser Magellan) Upland Goose, Tierra del Fuego

Upland Goose

Kelp Goose

Ashy-headed Goose

Ruddy-headed Goose

Raja Shelduck

Common Shelduck swimming with nice reflections

Common Shelduck

Ruddy Shelduck

Ruddy Shelduck

South African Shelduck

Australian Shelduck

Paradise Shelduck

Crested Shelduck

Perching Ducks and allies

The Cairinini or perching ducks are a varied tribe, including the popular Mandarin Duck and Wood Duck (/Carolina) through to the less common Brazilian Teal and Maned Duck (Maned Goose/Australian Wood Duck). Perching ducks tend to be more arboreal than other waterfowl.

The closely-related Mandarin and Wood Ducks are two of the most commonly kept ornamental waterfowl. 

Spur-winged Goose

Muscovy Duck

Comb Duck

Knob-billed Duck

African Pygmy Goose

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Green Pygmy Goose

Ringed Teal

Wood Duck swimming

Wood Duck

pair of Mandarin ducks standing outside a nest box

Mandarin Duck

Maned Duck

Blue Duck

Torrent Duck

3/4 shot of a Torrent Duck

Diving Ducks and allies

Diving ducks belong to the tribe Aythyini. With their legs set further back on their body, closer to the tail than most other ducks, they are ideally formed to be efficient divers but less well adapted for land.

Like most of the sea ducks and stifftails, diving ducks and feed at the bottom of water bodies, often many feet below the surface. A pond should be at least 1 metre (3′) deep to accommodate them. It is also important that it has sloped sides or ramps to enable easy access and egress. Since some diving ducks do not like to leave the water, it is necessary to place food dishes at the water’s edge or feed in the water itself.

Pochards and scaup are a group of 15 diving duck species. They are omnivorous, therefore wheat and pellets are suitable to supplement their diet. European Pochard and Tufted Duck are a good choice of starter species as they are both hardy, with a good lifespan and will breed well given the right conditions.

Hartlaub's Duck sitting on a post

Hartlaub’s Duck

Blue-winged Goose

Marbled teal

Marbled Duck

White-winged Duck

red-crested pochard standing on a bank

Red-crested Pochard

Rosy-billed pochard swimming

Rosy-billed Pochard

Southern Pochard

pair of Canvasback Ducks

Canvasback

Redhead duck swimming

Redhead

Common Pochard

Hardhead

Madagascan Pochard

pair of Baers Pochard swimming

Baer’s Pochard

Ferruginous Duck

New Zealand Scaup

Ring-necked Duck swimming

Ring-necked Duck

Tufted Duck swimming

Tufted Duck

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Pink-headed Duck

Dabbling Ducks and allies

The tribe Anatini includes several species of dabbling duck which are amongst the most commonly known waterfowl. Popular starter species include Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Common Shoveler and European Wigeon which all have distinctive male and female plumage, making it easy to be certain you have true pairs.

Dabbling ducks are happy with shallower and more restricted bodies of water than diving ducks. In the wild they are gregarious and happy to live in large mixed concentrations, which makes them particularly well suited to wildfowl collections.

Dabbling ducks search for their food, sifting through surface water, up-ending in the shallow reaches and often dabbling in the mud. Their diet can be supplemented with wheat and maintenance pellets, with breeder pellets are recommended in the breeding season. Grass must be plentiful for grazers such as wigeon. The availability of clean water is essential and it is a good idea to edge the pond with wood to avoid erosion of the edge by their persistent dabbling.

In migratory northern birds, pair bonds are short and seasonal but some southern dabbling ducks form stronger bonds. Generally, dabbling ducks nest on the ground.

Flying Steamerduck

Magellanic Steamerduck showing its huge feet

Fuegian Steamerduck

pair of Falkland Flightless Steamerduck

Falkland Steamerduck

Chubut Steamerduck

Salvadori’s Teal

Brazilian Teal

Crested Duck

2 Bronze-winged Ducks in a pool

Bronze-winged Duck

Baikal Teal

Garganey

Blue-billed Teal

Puna Teal

Silver Teal

Red Shoveler

Cinnamon Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Cape Shoveler

Australasian Shoveler

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Falcated Duck

European Wigeon drake standing on ice

Eurasian Wigeon

Chiloe Wigeon swimming

Chiloé Wigeon

American Wigeon

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Meller’s Duck

Pacific Black Duck

Laysan Duck

Hawaiian Duck

Philippine Duck

Indian Spot-billed Duck

Eastern Spot-billed Duck

Mallard drake swimming

Mallard

Mottled Duck

American Black Duck

Mexican Duck

Cape teal swimming

Cape Teal

White-cheeked Pintail

Red-billed Teal

South Georgia Pintail in the wild, a few small snowflakes falling

Yellow-billed Pintail

Eaton’s Pintail

pair of Northern Pintail swimming

Northern Pintail

Eurasian Teal

Green-winged Teal

Yellow-billed Teal

Andean Teal pair

Andean Teal

Sunda Teal

Andaman Teal

Grey Teal

Chestnut Teal

Madagascar Teal standing on a rock

Bernier’s Teal

Brown Teal

Brown Teal

Auckland Teal

Campbell Teal

LIST OF THE Subfamily ANATINAE

Mergini (Sea Ducks & allies)

  • Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri
  • Spectacled Eider Somateria fischeri
  • King Eider Somateria spectabilis
  • Common Eider Somateria mollissima
    • Pacific S. m. v-nigrum
    • Northern S. m. borealis
    • Hudson Bay S. m. sedentaria
    • Dresser’s S. m. dresseri
    • Faeroes S. m. faeroeensis
    • European S. m. mollissima
  • Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
  • Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata
  • Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca
  • White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi
  • Stejneger’s Scoter Melanitta stejnegeri
  • Common Scoter Melanitta nigra
  • Black Scoter Melanitta americana
  • Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
  • Bufflehead Bucephala albeola
  • Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
    • European B. c. clangula
    • American B. c. americana
  • Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica
  • Smew Mergellus albellus
  • Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus
  • Brazilian Merganser Mergus octosetaceus
  • Common Merganser Mergus merganser
    • Eurasian M. m. merganser
    • Asiatic M. m. orientalis
    • American M. m. americanus
  • Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
  • Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus

Tadornini (Shelducks and Sheldgeese)

  • Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
  • Orinoco Goose Neochen jubata
  • Andean Goose Chloephaga melanoptera
  • Upland Goose Chloephaga picta
    • Lesser Magellan C. p. picta
    • Greater Magellan C. p. leucoptera
  • Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida
    • Lesser C. h. hybrida
    • Greater C. h. malvinarum
  • Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala
  • Ruddy-headed Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps
  • Raja Shelduck Radjah radjah
    • Black-backed R. r. radjah
    • Red-backed R. r. rufitergum
  • Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
  • Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
  • South African Shelduck Tadorna cana
  • Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
  • Paradise Shelduck Tadorna variegata
  • Crested Shelduck Tadorna cristata (possibly extinct)

Cairinini (Perching Ducks & allies)

  • Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
    • Gambian P. g. gambensis
    • Black P. g. niger
  • Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
  • Comb Duck Sarkidiornis sylvicola
  • Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
  • African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus
  • Cotton Pygmy Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
    • Indian N. c. coromandelianus
    • Australian N. c. albipennis
  • Green Pygmy Goose Nettapus pulchellus
  • Ringed Teal Callonetta leucophrys
  • Wood Duck Aix sponsa
  • Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
  • Maned Duck Chenonetta jubata

Blue Duck Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

Torrent Duck Merganetta armata

    • Columbian M. a. colombiana
    • Peruvian M. a. leucogenis
    • Turner’s M. a. turneri
    • Garlepp’s M. a. garleppi
    • Berlepsch’s M. a. berlepschi
    • Chilean M. a. armata

Aythiyini (Diving Ducks & allies)

  • Hartlaub’s Duck Pteronetta hartlaubii
  • Blue-winged Goose Cyanochen cyanoptera
  • Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris
  • White-winged Duck Asarcornis scutulata
  • Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina
  • Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca
  • Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma
    • African N. e. brunnea
    • South American N. e. erythrophthalma
  • Canvasback Aythya valisineria
  • Redhead Aythya americana
  • Common Pochard Aythya ferina
  • Hardhead Aythya australis
  • Madagascan Pochard Aythya innotata
  • Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri
  • Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca
  • New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
  • Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris
  • Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
  • Greater Scaup Aythya marila
    • European A. m. marila
    • Pacific A. m. nearctica
  • Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis

Pink-headed Duck – now believed extinct

  • Rhodonessa caryophyllacea

Anatini (Dabbling Ducks & allies)

  • Flying Steamerduck Tachyeres patachonicus
  • Feugian Steamerduck Tachyeres pteneres
  • Falkland Steamerduck Tachyeres brachypterus
  • Chubut Steamerduck Tachyeres leucocephalus
  • Salvadori’s Teal Salvadorina waigiuensis
  • Brazilian Teal Amazonetta brasiliensis
    • Lesser A. b. brasiliensis
    • Greater A. b. ipecutiri
  • Crested Duck Lophonetta specularioides
    • Andean L. s. alticola
    • Patagonian L. s. specularioides
  • Bronze-winged Duck Speculanas specularis
  • Baikal Teal Sibirionetta formosa
  • Garganey Spatula querquedula
  • Blue-billed Teal Spatula hottentota
  • Puna Teal Spatula puna
  • Silver Teal Spatula versicolor
    • Northern S. v. versicolor
    • Southern S. v. fretensis
  • Red Shoveler Spatula platalea
  • Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera
    • Northern S. c. septentrionalium
    • Tropical S. c. tropica
    • Borrero’s S. c. borreroi
    • Andean S. c. orinoma
    • Argentine S. c. cyanoptera
  • Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
  • Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii
  • Australisian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis
  • Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
  • Gadwall Mareca strepera
    • M. s. strepera
    • Coue’s M. s. couesi
  • Falcated Duck Mareca falcata
  • Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
  • Chiloe Wigeon Mareca sibilatrix
  • American Wigeon Mareca americana
  • African Black Duck Anas sparsa
    • West African A. s. leucostigma
    • South African A. s. sparsa
  • Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
    • Abyssinian A. u. ruppelli
    • African A. u. undulata
  • Meller’s Duck Anas melleri
  • Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
    • Australasian A. s. superciliosa
    • Pelew Island A. s. pelewensis
  • Laysan Duck Anas laysanensis
  • Hawaiian Duck Anas wyvilliana
  • Philippine Duck Anas luzonica
  • Western Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
    • Indian A. p. poecilorhyncha
    • Burma A. p. haringtoni
  • Eastern Spot-billed Duck Anas zonorhyncha
  • Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
    • Common A. p. platyrhynchos
    • Greenland A. p. conboschas
  • Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula
    • A. f. fulvigula
    • A. f. maculosa
  • American Black Duck Anas rubripes
  • Mexican Duck A. diazi
  • Cape Teal Anas capensis
  • White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis
    • Lesser A. b. bahamensis
    • Greater A. b. rubrirostris
    • Galapagos A. b. galapagensis
  • Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha
  • Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica
    • Chilean A. g. spinicauda
    • South Georgian A. g. georgica
  • Eaton’s Pintail Anas eatoni
    • Crozet A. e. drygalskii
    • Kerguelen A. e. eatoni
  • Northern Pintail Anas acuta
  • Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
  • Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
  • Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris
    • Sharp-winged A. f. oxyptera
    • Chilean A. f. flavirostris
  • Andean Teal Anas andium
    • Merida A. a. altipetens
    • Speckled A. a. andium
  • Sunda Teal Anas gibberifrons
  • Andaman Teal Anas albogularis
  • Grey Teal Anas gracilis
  • Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
  • Bernier’s Teal Anas bernier
  • Brown Teal Anas chlorotis
  • Auckland Teal Anas aucklandica
  • Campbell Teal Anas nesiotis

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]]> Swans, Geese & Allies https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/wildfowl/swans-geese-allies/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:34:52 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=567 These are the tribes that make up the subfamily Anserinae. Several odd waterfowl are in this subfamily and have unique challenges in aviculture. Click the thumbnails for species accounts of the swans, geese and their allies. Pink-eared Duck Freckled Duck Cape Barren Goose Coscoroba Swan True Swans The largest and most majestic of waterfowl, the […]

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These are the tribes that make up the subfamily Anserinae. Several odd waterfowl are in this subfamily and have unique challenges in aviculture.

Click the thumbnails for species accounts of the swans, geese and their allies.

Pink-eared Duck

Pink-eared Duck

male Freckled Duck swimming

Freckled Duck

Cereopsis or Cape Barren Goose standing on grass

Cape Barren Goose

Coscoroba Swan standing inn shallow water

Coscoroba Swan

True Swans

The largest and most majestic of waterfowl, the swan is graceful but also the most territorial and pugnacious. Cobs (males) tend to be more aggressive than their pens (females) and can be particularly troublesome during the breeding season. It is best to keep swans on larger water bodies, where they will spend most of their time.

Swans are vegetarian and can live for 30 years. Pair bonds are strong and swans usually mate for life. Mute, Black and Whooper Swans are prolific breeders but other species breed more sporadically. Bewick’s Swan is included here as a sub-species of the Tundra Swan.

2 Black swans

Black Swan

2 Black-necked swans swimming in a pool

Black-necked Swan

Mute Swan swimming, agressive pose

Mute Swan

Trumpeter Swan standing proud

Trumpeter Swan

Bewick's Swan

Tundra Swan

trio of alert Whooper swans by a lake

Whooper Swan

True Geese

All true geese originate from the northern hemisphere. They are distinct from the ‘look alike’ sheldgeese of the southern hemisphere. They can be divided into two groups; pale-breasted geese and dark-breasted geese. The two groups make up a total of sixteen species from the popular Red-breasted Goose through to the less common Snow Goose.

In the wild, geese are gregarious, particularly so out of the breeding season, on migration and on their wintering grounds. In captivity a single pair of most species will thrive and breed but if space permits it is more natural to keep more than one pair of the same or different species together. Ornamental ducks may also be kept with ornamental geese, usually without difficulty although sheldgeese and some shelducks mix less successfully.

Geese need plenty of grazing space, so concentrate on ducks if your enclosure is small. Assuming extra feeding, in addition to grazing particularly in winter, a rough guide is ten pairs per acre. Geese bond for life. While the sexes look identical they can breed in captivity in the third year. For breeding and for general wellfare, all geese need a pond. 

2 Pacific Brent Geese swimming

Brant Goose

3 Red-breasted Geese swimming

Red-breasted Goose

Hawaiian Goose with 4 young goslings

Nēnē Goose

young Giant Canada geese standing proud

Canada Goose

A barnacle goose from the side

Barnacle Goose

Cackling Goose in a field with daisies

Cackling Goose

Bar-headed Goose

Emperor Goose standing on grasss

Emperor Goose

pair of Ross's geese defending a nest in a wildfowl collection

Ross’s Goose

Snow geese in white an blue phase

Snow Goose

Greylag goose standing on ice

Greylag Goose

Swan Goose standing on a stone with flower meadow behind

Swan Goose

Taiga Bean Goose

2 Pink-foot geese swimming

Pink-footed Goose

Thick-billed Bean Goose

Tundra Bean Goose

Greater White-fronted 

Lesser White-fronted

LIST OF THE Subfamily ANSERINAE

Malacorhynchini
  • Pink-eared Duck  Malacorhynchus membranaceus
 
Stictonettini
  • Freckled Duck  Stictonetta naevosa
 
Cereopsenini
  • Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
    • C. n. novaehollandiae
    • C. n. grisea
  • Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba
 
Cygnini (True Swans)
  • Black Swan Cygnus atratus
  • Black-necked Swan Cygnus melancoryphus
  • Mute Swan Cygnus olor
  • Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator
  • Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
    • C. c. columbianus
    • C. c. bewickii
  • Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
 
Anserini (True Geese)
  • Brant Goose Branta bernicla
    • Black-bellied B. b. nigricans
    • Dark-bellied B. b. bernicla
    • Pale-bellied B. b. hrota
    • B. b. orientalis
  • Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
  • Nene Goose Branta sandvicensis
  • Canada Goose Branta canadensis
    • Dusky B. c. occidentalis
    • Vancouver B. c. fulva
    • Giant B.c. maxima
    • Lesser B. c. parvipes
    • Moffit’s B. c. moffitti
    • Hudson Bay B. c. interior
    • Atlantic B. c. canadensis
  • Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
  • Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
    • Aleutian B. h. leucopareia
    • B. h. minima
    • Taverner’s B. h. taverneri
    • Richardson’s B. h.hutchinsii
  • Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
  • Emperor Goose Anser canagicus
  • Ross’s Goose Anser rossii
  • Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
    • A. c. caerulescens
    • A. c. atlanticus
  • Greylag Goose Anser anser
    • Western A. a. anser
    • Eastern A. a. rubrirostris
  • Swan Goose Anser cygnoid
  • Taiga Bean Goose Anser fabalis
    • A. f. fabalis
    • A. f. johanseni
    • A. f. middendorffii
  • Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
  • Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris
    • A. f. rossicus
    • A. f. serrirostris
  • Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
    • A. a. flavirostris
    • A. a. albifrons
    • A. a. elgasi
    • A. a. gambelli
    • A. a. sponsa
  • Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus
 
 

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]]> Stifftails https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/wildfowl/stifftails-allies/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:34:37 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=566 The stifftails are a tribe distinctive in their appearance and behaviour, characterised by their long erect tails. The majority are southern hemisphere ducks although Ruddy Duck and White-headed Duck are from North America and Europe respectively. The most aquatic of all waterfowl, it is important to supply grains to stifftails on the water, especially when stock […]

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The stifftails are a tribe distinctive in their appearance and behaviour, characterised by their long erect tails. The majority are southern hemisphere ducks although Ruddy Duck and White-headed Duck are from North America and Europe respectively.

The most aquatic of all waterfowl, it is important to supply grains to stifftails on the water, especially when stock is moved or introduced.

Black-headed Duck

Masked Duck

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

Andean Duck

Argentine Ruddy duck swimming

Lake Duck

Blue-billed Duck

Maccoa Duck loafing on the bank

Maccoa Duck

White-headed Duck

White-headed Duck

Musk Duck

Where we stand as waterfowl enthusiasts:

In order to protect the globally threatened White-headed Duck, the (North American) Ruddy Duck may not be imported, kept, bred, transported, sold or exchanged, allowed to reproduce or released into the environment in Europe. The objective being to allow the population to decrease by natural attrition. General licences are still in the news and the Ruddy Duck is covered by GL-21. Feral Ruddy Ducks may be controlled (in a humane manner) at any time, even when shooting may otherwise be suspended, for instance, during periods of harsh weather. Reports of feral birds culled should be made to your region’s executive nature agency.

LIST OF THE Subfamily OXYURINAE

  • Black-headed Duck – Heteronetta atricapilla
  • Masked Duck – Nomonyx dominicus
  • Ruddy Duck – Oxyura jamaicensis
  • Andean Duck – O. ferruginea
    • O. f. ferruginea
    • O. f. andina
  • Lake Duck – O. vittata
  • Blue-billed Duck – O. australis
  • Maccoa Duck – O. maccoa
  • White-headed Duck – O. leucocephala
  • Musk Duck – Biziura lobata
    • B. l. lobata
    • B. l. menziesi

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]]> Whistling Ducks https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/wildfowl/whistling-ducks/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:34:20 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=565 Whistling ducks were formerly known as tree ducks, but not all like trees. They are much less arboreal than the perching ducks for instance. The name whistling duck is far more appropriate and descriptive, as all have calls ranging from distinctive high-pitched shrill sounds to clear or squeaky whistles.  Range  Whistling ducks live in the […]

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Whistling ducks were formerly known as tree ducks, but not all like trees. They are much less arboreal than the perching ducks for instance. The name whistling duck is far more appropriate and descriptive, as all have calls ranging from distinctive high-pitched shrill sounds to clear or squeaky whistles. 

Range 

Whistling ducks live in the warmer lowland areas of the tropics and subtropics in both the Old and New Worlds. They are mostly sedentary, with movements determined by variations in the availability of water. 

3 White-faced Whistling Ducks swimming

White-faced Whistling

Black-bellied Whistling + ssp

2 Spotted Whistling ducks sitting on a branch

Spotted Whistling

3 West Indian Whistling Ducks standing in front of a fence

West Indian Whistling

Fulvous Whistling 

Group of Eyton's Whistling Ducks showing social behaviour

Plumed Whistling (Eyton’s) 

Australian Wandering Whistling Duck swimming

Wandering Whistling +ssp

2 Lesser Whistling or Javan ducks swimming

Lesser Whistling (Javan)

Recent DNA studies have shown that the White-backed Duck is most closely related to the whistling ducks, so it is included here.

White-backed Duck with nice reflections

White-backed Duck

Appearance 

Both sexes are alike and have similar vocal calls and displays. All have broad rounded wings, large feet, fairly long necks and legs and look rather more like small swans or geese, which they are more closely related to than most other ducks.

Young Spotted Whistling ducklings cupped in hands
Spotted Whistling ducklings — Morag Jones

They differ from all the other wildfowl in the colouring of their ducklings. The downy young tend to be strongly patterned, with a characteristic light stripe that extends under the eyes and back around the nape, without any gaps. This contrasting colour pattern is particularly apparent on the duckling of the Black-bellied Whistling Duck. 

The adults range in size from the Cuban Whistling Duck, which weighs up to a kilo, down to the Lesser Whistling Duck, which weighs less than half. 

Requirements

Whistling ducks are not as commonly kept as dabbling or diving ducks. Fulvous, Black-bellied (or Red-billed) and White-faced are fairly popular in mixed collections, where they will readily feed on the same wheat and breeder pellet mix. 

Probably the best species to start with is the Fulvous as they are the hardiest. Some whistling ducks may suffer from frostbite during the winter. However, with a sheltered pond and if possible, an actual shelter, the White-faced and Red-billed species will be quite happy provided a dry substrate is provided. 

Another fairly hardy species is the Cuban, but being a little bit bigger than the other species they can be rather quarrelsome. 

Behaviour 

The pair bonds of whistling ducks are very strong. Pairs spend most of their time together and can often be seen carefully and tenderly preening each other. 

The White-faced Whistling Duck seems to be the most highly social and engages in this mutual nibbling (allopreening) frequently. This friendship between pairs is particularly obvious when they are separated as they tend to call loudly to each other until reunited. They can also be stimulated to whistle in response to an imitation of their own call, especially if they cannot see where it is coming from! 

In response to a sudden unexpected event, a flock can start a cacophony of squeals that can be quite unnerving. When frightened they sometimes stand absolutely still and quiet with their long necks stretched up as high as they will go.  

Whistling ducks are almost entirely vegetarian. They either upend or dive for food, which they can do remarkably well, or sometimes they graze. 

Nesting 

In a collection they are prepared to use a variety of different nest sites in ground cover, hollow logs, nest boxes, or sometimes even up in trees. Unlike other waterfowl, the nest is not heavily lined with down. The nest is often enthusiastically guarded.

White-faced Whistling Duck guarding a nest — Morag Jones
  • Whistling ducks lay large clutches of 6 to 16 eggs. These are white or off-white and take 24-31 days to hatch, depending on species. Both sexes take part in incubating and rearing the youngsters. If left to rear their own young, they may be safer separated from the rest of the collection and away from vermin in a covered run unless you have a lot of space. As the adults tend to be so tame, this penning does not put them under any undue stress. 

 

LIST OF THE subfamily DENDROCYGNINAE

  • White-faced Whistling Duck – Dendrocygna viduata
  • Black-bellied Whistling Duck – D. autumnalis
    • Northern Black-bellied Whistling Duck – D. a. fulgens
    • Southern Black-bellied Whistling Duck – D. a. autumnalis
  • Spotted Whistling Duck – D. guttata
  • West Indian Whistling Duck – D. arborea
  • Fulvous Whistling Duck – D. bicolor
  • Plumed Whistling Duck – D. eytoni
  • Wandering Whistling Duck – D. arcuata
    • East Indian Wandering Whistling Duck – D. a. arcuata
    • Lesser Wandering Whistling Duck – D. a. pygmaea
    • Australian Wandering Whistling Duck – D. a. australis
  • Lesser Whistling Duck – D. javanica

 

  • White-backed Duck – Thalassornis leuconotus
    • T. l. leuconotus
    • T. l. insularis

 

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]]> Magpie Geese https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/wildfowl/magpie-geese/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:33:09 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=563 The primitive Magpie Goose is in a separate tribe all on its own - the Anseranatidae. The scientific name Anseranas semipalmata, translates directly as 'half-webbed goose-duck'. It possibly forms the links between the wildfowl and the more terrestrial neotropical screamers. Click the image for more information. Magpie Goose Sadly (unless you have a huge staff), […]

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The primitive Magpie Goose is in a separate tribe all on its own – the Anseranatidae. The scientific name Anseranas semipalmata, translates directly as ‘half-webbed goose-duck’.

It possibly forms the links between the wildfowl and the more terrestrial neotropical screamers. Click the image for more information.

Magpie goose stood in a pen

Magpie Goose

Sadly (unless you have a huge staff), they do not lend themselves to the ornamental garden or lushly planted pen. They’d enjoy it hugely but it would be trashed within a season. Those strong claws and bills are adapted to digging out rhizomes and bulbs. Seeds of the aquatic grasses form the balance of their diet and these will be pulled to ground level when adults are proffering morsels to their young. Despite all this, these are charming birds for their personalities and justifyably deserve a place when they can have the right habitat. Given sufficient space they should prosper when some of the vigorous, nay rampant, vegetation is planted. If only they had a taste for Japanese Knotweed.

In southern regions of Australia populations diminished to an unsustainable level half a century ago. Largely due to hunting and habitat destruction. This trend has been reversed recently following some sucessful reintroduction projects, even to the extent that hunting has started again. No formal plan for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared to date. We can only hope that increasing awareness of environmental issues and fauna preservation will be in the Magpie Goose’s favour. Wetland habitats remain under threat in Australia – increasing human populations in dry areas and climate change make water a scarce resource and the Magpie Goose may come off second best.

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]]> Light Geese https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/domestic-waterfowl/domestic-geese/light-geese/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:29:47 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=556 The lighter breeds of geese certainly need less space to keep, but still need good grazing to perform well. Some of them may fly a little, so you may need to anticipate this when planning your pens. Light breeds presently standardised are: Chinese Czech Franconian Pilgrim Roman Sebastopol Shetland Steinbacher Chinese Czech Franconian Pilgrim Roman […]

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The lighter breeds of geese certainly need less space to keep, but still need good grazing to perform well. Some of them may fly a little, so you may need to anticipate this when planning your pens.

Light breeds presently standardised are:

  • Chinese
  • Czech
  • Franconian
  • Pilgrim
  • Roman
  • Sebastopol
  • Shetland
  • Steinbacher
Chinese goose

Chinese

Czech

Franconian Gose

Franconian

Pilgrim

Roman Goose grazing on a lawn

Roman

Sebastopol

Shetland Geese

Shetland

Steinbacher

Full exhibition standards for these breeds may be found in the British Waterfowl Standards.

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]]> Medium Geese https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/domestic-waterfowl/domestic-geese/medium-geese/ Sun, 14 Jul 2019 13:29:29 +0000 https://www.waterfowl.org.uk/?page_id=555 Medium breeds presently standardised are:  Brecon Buff Buff Back and Grey Back Pomeranian West of England Brecon Buff Buff Back and Grey Back Pomeranian West of England Full exhibition standards for these breeds may be found in the British Waterfowl Standards.

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Medium breeds presently standardised are:
 
  • Brecon Buff
  • Buff Back and Grey Back
  • Pomeranian
  • West of England
Brecon Buff geese

Brecon Buff

Juvenile Buff-back geese in a field

Buff Back and Grey Back

Pomeranian geese on a snowwy field

Pomeranian

Three female West of England Geese on grass

West of England

Full exhibition standards for these breeds may be found in the British Waterfowl Standards.

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