CrackitToday App

Indian-Spot Billed Duck : Spotted

Indian-Spot Billed Duck : Spotted

An Indian spot-billed with pale plumage was sighted at Manickapuram tank in Tiruppur district, Tamil Nadu, recently.

  • Indian-Spot Billed Duck is a large dabbling duck that is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent.
  • The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population.
  • Scientific Name: Anas poecilorhyncha
  • It is a resident throughout Pakistan and India in freshwater wetlands.
  • They inhabit both inland and coastal wetlands such as ponds, lakes, pools, streams, creeks, estuaries, tidal flats and marshes.
  • They tend to avoid very large patches of open water and prefer medium-sized wetlands with vegetation cover.
  • It has a scaly patterned body with a green speculum and a band of white tertials.
  • These are mainly grey ducks with a paler head and neck and a black bill tipped bright yellow.
  • They mostly feed on grasses and other vegetations. Sometimes they may feed on insects.
  • Conservation Status:
    • IUCN Red List: Least Concern