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Project Noah Nature School
Anas platyrhynchos
Spotted Lynfield, Auckland, New Zealand.Upon hatching, the plumage colouring of the duckling is yellow on the underside and face (with streaks by the eyes) and black on the backside (with some yellow spots) all the way to the top and back of the head. Its legs and bill are also black. As it nears a month in age, the duckling's plumage will start becoming drab, looking more like the female (though its plumage is more streaked) and its legs will lose their dark grey colouring MALE: Has a glossy green head and white collar ring. The upper breast is chestnut with finely streaked silvery grey underparts. The runp and tail coverts are black and the tail grey and white with a curled up tip. The bill is a yellowish green and legs are orange
This is a dabbling duck and is commonly seen on salty or brackish water.
The breeding season is from September to December, with the peak from October to early November. The female lays about 13 buff-green eggs, one a day, soon after dawn.
Spotted on Oct 6, 2012
Submitted on Oct 6, 2012
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