Page 412 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Family Anatidae Species Anas discors Family Anatidae Species Marmaronetta angustirostris
Blue-winged Teal Marbled Duck

This small, long-billed surface-feeding duck is usually Rare and local, the Marbled Duck is a pale, mottled
seen in immature plumage which is dark, mottled, and grey-brown bird with a distinctive dark mask running
Teal-like (see p.106), with a broken pale line over the into a slight tuft on the nape.The bill looks dark, the
eye and whitish spot near the bill, pale blue forewings, tail and rear end of the bird pale. In flight, the wings
and yellowish legs. Males have a bold, vertical white show little pattern except for darker tips and an
blaze on the face and bright blue on the wings; females almost-white trailing edge. Pale spots on the flanks are
are duller.The face pattern is echoed by summer male distinctive if seen at close range. Most Marbled Ducks
Shovelers (see p.104), a species with which Blue- found in NW Europe are suspected to be escaped
winged Teals at times associate. Occasionally one may birds from collections.
remain for some time on a suitable lake in Europe. OCCURRENCE Very rare, in S Spain, Morocco, and
OCCURRENCE Rare autumn/winter Turkey. dark
vagrant from North America. VOICE Silent. slight tuft mask
VOICE Mostly silent. vertical white at nape
blaze on face ADULT pale spots
on flanks
dark, mottled
MALE body

Length 37–41cm (14 1 ⁄2 –16in) Wingspan 55–65cm (22–26in) Length 39–42cm (15 1 ⁄2 –16 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 63–70cm (25–28in)

Family Anatidae Species Aythya nyroca Family Anatidae Species Aythya collaris
Ferruginous Duck Ring-necked Duck
A fast-declining bird, the Ferruginous Duck is a sleek, This is a close relative of the Tufted Duck (see p.110),
rich mahogany-red diving duck, with broad, dazzling identified by a more pointed head shape with no tuft,
white wing stripes. Drakes have white eyes and dark and grey wingbars.Drakes have grey flanks with a white
grey bills fading to whitish before a black tip. Females “peak” at the front, brown females a Pochard-like
are duller and brown-eyed.All have a pure white (see p.108) pale face and white “spectacle”.Hybrid
patch under the tail and peaked heads. Hybrid diving ducks with similar patterns cause identification
ducks may look very similar and require close problems.A whitish ring behind the black bill tip is
attention to features such as eye and bill colours. the sign of a true Ring-necked Duck.
OCCURRENCE Declining breeder in C and OCCURRENCE Very rare but regular vagrant
E Europe; rare visitor in NW Europe. from North America to W Europe. whitish ring
VOICE Quiet; occasional purring growls. VOICE Low growling notes. behind black
dark grey bill tip
white eye bill with pointed
black tip head
white patch white “peak” on
under tail grey flanks
MALE MALE

Length 38–42cm (15–16 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 60–67cm (23–26 1 ⁄2in) Length 37–46cm (14 1 ⁄2 –18in) Wingspan 65–75cm (26–30in)
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