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Falcated Duck


Falcated Duck
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2386 W: 94 N: 5517] (17564)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/8, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-03 6:48
Viewed: 634
Points: 48
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Another duck which I’ve photographed. This time in Avifauna, a birdpark in Alphen aan de Rijn.
This park has a variety of duck species. One of the most beautiful ducks is this Falcated Duck. The Falcated Duck or Falcated Teal (Anas falcata), (in Dutch: Bronskopeend), is a Gadwall-sized dabbling duck.

Taxonomy
The closest relative of this species is the Gadwall, followed by the wigeons.

Distribution and Habitat
The Falcated duck breeds in eastern Asia. It nests in eastern Russia, in Khabarovsk, Primorskiy, Amur, Chita, Buryatia, Irkutsk, Tuva, eastern Krasnoyarsk, south central Sakha Sakhalin, extreme northeastern North Korea and northern China, in northeastern Inner Mongolia, and northern Heilongjiang, and in northern Japan, Hokkaidō, Aomori, and the Kuril Islands. It is widely recorded well outside its normal range, but the popularity of this beautiful duck in captivity clouds the origins of these extralimital birds.
This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters in much of Southeast Asia. In India: Uttar Pradesh, Bihār, Assam, eastern Haryāna. Also in northern Bangladesh, northern and central Myanmar, northern Laos to the Mekong River, northern Vietnam (from about Hanoi north), and China: Hainan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Guangxi Zhuang, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, northern Hunan, Hubei, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Shandong, southern Hebei, Shanxi, northern Shaanxi. It is gregarious outside the breeding season and will then form large flocks.

This is a species of lowland wetlands, such as water meadows or lakes, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing. It nests on the ground, near water and under the cover of taller vegetation. The clutch is 6–10 eggs.

Identification
This is a at 48–54cm length. The breeding male is unmistakable. Most of the body plumage is finely vermiculated grey, with the long sickle-shaped tertials, which give this species its name, hanging off its back. The large head is dark green with a white throat, and a dark green collar and bronzed crown). The vent region is patterned in yellow, black and white.
The female Falcated Duck is dark brown, with plumage much like a female wigeon. Its long grey bill is an aid to identification. The eclipse male is like the female, but darker on the back and head. In flight both sexes show a pale grey underwing. The blackish speculum is bordered with a white bar on its inner edge. Young birds are buffer than the female and have short tertials.

The male Falcated Duck has a clear low whistle, whereas the female has a gruff "quack".

Status
It has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

Source: Wikipedia
eqshannon, Juyona, maurydv, boreocypriensis, pvs, CeltickRanger, jeanpaul, jaycee, valy67, Noisette, uleko, anel has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

One thing for certain is that in shapes, ducks for the most part keep true to form. The biggest difference is in colours...this one being no exception. It has a smooth colouring to the head and neck but then the complex patterns on the body. It is amazing when taken at just the right light and angle, that all can be captured so well..Very nicely done..interesting note on near threatened!
Bob

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2573] (9077)
  • [2009-06-03 7:05]

Hi Peter,
lovely simple shot of this lonely bird. The feather is so fine and so delicate.
excellent sharpness and what a wonderful creature.
Realluy an outstanding piece of shot.

regards,
Foozi

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 645 W: 15 N: 1580] (6173)
  • [2009-06-03 7:31]

Hello Peter
Another excellent capture with great details and beautiful colors.
Regards
Razvan

Hello Peter,
nice capture,very sharp details and natural colors,
regards,
Nikos.

hallo Peter
dit is ook weer een beauty
zo mooi scherp en die details van de veren
zijn zo mooi
en schitterende kleuren
super schot
groetjes lou

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2262 W: 10 N: 2630] (15565)
  • [2009-06-03 10:04]

Hola Peter,
hermosa captura y pov,
original plumaje y color...
saludos amigo.

Hello Peter,
a great portrait of the Falcated duck, a bird that i have never seen really, superb sharpness and fine details in the feathers, bright colours in a nice composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Wowww... superbly composed and focussed capture of this elegant duck Peter. All photographic criteria are great MF!
TFS this beauty and have a nice night!
Cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • demeve Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 603 W: 11 N: 1627] (5989)
  • [2009-06-03 11:37]

Hello Peter,
Indeed this duck is very beautiful! I like the colors and the sharpness of you photo.. Well done

Everton

Ciao Peter, lovely duck with fantastic colors, splendid reflections, excellent sharpness and fine details, very well done, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2009-06-03 13:04]

Ha Peter,

Een apart getekende en gekleurde eend,een nieuwe voor mij,staat er mooi op alhoewel hij wellicht iets scherper had gekund,ik neem aan dat er nog wel wat moois vanuit avifauna in het verschiet ligt,ik vanavond weer eens een tochtje gereden en kijken of er nog een eland of iets dergelijks te spotten was,helaas geen gezien,wel veel reeen,hier stond nog een vraagje van je open geloof ik bij mijn laatste upload (de reeen zie je vaak langs de weg staan hierzo,als je rustig voorbij rij,kan je veelal wel een kiekje maken vanuit de auto,indien je uitstapt zijn ze idd zo met de noorderzon vertrokken en heb je alleen witte kontjes op de kiek staan,groetjes

Paul

Hallo Peter,

Toen ik zag in e Nederlanden dacht ik al ken deze soort niet maar Avifauna nu begrijp ik het.
Mooie plaat met veel detailering en prachtige natuurlijke kleuren.

Gert

hello Peter

beautiful photo of the Falcated Duck, fine POV to show us
his wonderful duck plumage, fine focus with excellent
sharpness and details, i love the reflection on the water,

TFS

Asbed

Bonjour Peter
En voilà une que j'aime beaucoup. C'est très bien composé, en montrant la richesse du plumage, sans doute sous son meilleur angle. Avant et arrière-plan aquatiques très en harmonie, Vraiment bien!
Bravo et merci

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-06-03 16:27]

Hi Peter,

I agree - this is one of the most beautiful ducks I have seen. A beautiful capture showing off the marvelous colors of the head and the intricate details of the feathers. The water, reflections, and composition are superb.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1899 W: 36 N: 5578] (18516)
  • [2009-06-03 21:56]

Hi Peter,
Wonderful shot of this very elegant Falcated Duck with such lovely markings on its plumage. A cool pose captured and such superb light handling. Excellent POV and composition.
TFS.
Sumon

  • Great 
  • Marx44 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 174 W: 95 N: 599] (2124)
  • [2009-06-03 23:19]

Hi,
Nicely captured on this beautiful Duck!
The image is so sharp with every single details on it especially on the plummage! My compliment!
TFS
Marx

Hello peter !
I have always been amazed by the number of duck species who existed in the world - here you show me once again a species I didn't know. And he's beautiful, too, with the green-colored head. You have captured him with excellent details, in a lovely pose.Excellent composition, nice POV, natural colors. Very well done !
Valérie.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-06-04 11:24]

Hi Peter,how is nice this duck! I never seen nothing like that.The colors of the head are fantastics and the details of the plums are really at the top of quality! A very professional work as your style!My best compliments,have a nice day,LUCIANO

Hello Peter
This Facated Duck is very beautiful, i like his green and brown head and his black and white body, he is well focused in a nice pose an POV
great reflections in the water
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Ciao Peter. Great shot. Perfect sharp and amazing graphic effects.

Roberto

nice portrait, greetings Ori

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2991 W: 162 N: 949] (2787)
  • [2009-06-08 9:43]

Hello Peter,
I've never seen a Falcated Duck before! It looks a bit like a mixture of several duck species! Very beautiful and an excellent sharp capture. Interesting note too!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1723 W: 0 N: 3903] (15686)
  • [2009-07-25 4:39]

Hello Peter,
Looking back on your Duck-pictures, I found this one which has such a beautiful plumage which could be a great inspiration for some elegant dress.
Well photographed picture with a fine composition and good light.
Thanks and kind regards
Anne

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