Falcated duck : Spotted
Birders at the Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, Haryana experienced this delight as they spotted a Falcated Duck.
- Falcated duck is also known as falcated teal(Mareca falcata) is a gadwall-sized dabbling duck.
- It is from eastern Siberia and Mongolia to northern Japan with wintering grounds in southeast Asia to eastern India. There have also been sightings of falcated teals in America, Poland and Thailand.
- They are normally found in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and marshes that are surrounded by forest.
- The breeding season of this species is from May to early July. They make their nests on the ground near water, usually in tall grass or brush.
- They are mostly herbivorous, and eat vegetable matter, seeds, rice and aquatic plants. Occasionally they also consume small invertebrates and soft-shelled mollusks.
- The sightings of the Falcated Ducks in India are irregular and can be termed as ‘rare’.
- A primary threat to the falcated duck is hunting, as people want them for food and their feathers.
- Conservation Status: IUCN: Near Threatened
