Ducks belong to the order of goose-shaped birds, whose ancestors on earth appeared about 80 million years ago. Zoologists distinguish 150 species of these amazing birds, united in 50 large genera. In our small zoological review, the most beautiful ducks in the world, living in different regions of our planet.
1
Gaga-comb / Somateria spectabilis
Large sea ducks that are larger than their feathered counterparts. In adults, the body length reaches 62 cm, and the wingspan is more than 1 meter.
Sea duck nests in northern Eurasia and North America. Large populations populated the numerous islands of the Arctic Ocean. In Russia, they began to call combs because of the growth near the beak, resembling a comb in shape.
Females and males have colorful plumage. The nest is equipped on land near a freshwater reservoir. After the birth of ducklings, peculiar “kindergartens” are created, when one female duck watches the brood of other birds.
2
Crested Merganser / Lophodytes cucullatus
In the majestic coniferous forests of the North American continent, you can see an unusual bird called the Crested Merganser. It prefers ponds surrounded by forests, as well as swampy meadows.
Nests can twist along the gentle shores of slow-flowing streams. These are small birds that do not grow more than 40 cm in length. The weight of females and males reaches 400–600 g. Females and males have a colorful plumage, and in the mating season, a peculiar crest grows in males.
These are migratory birds that move to warmer regions in the winter. The flight distances are not long, but swarms rest on the rivers.
3
Loot / Mergellus albellus
A contrasting, black-and-white plumage duck, nests in the forest-tundra and taiga from Scandinavia to the Japanese island of Hokkaido. In Russia and the Scandinavian countries it is also called Lesser Merganser.
The migratory bird spends the winter period to the south of habitual habitats. An unusual crest on their head is related to them with mergansers. They are mostly silent, but during mating, the males make sounds similar to frogs croaking.
It feeds on crustaceans, bugs, and also the larvae of insects living near rivers and reservoirs. Some species have chosen small areas in North America. Loot is considered one of the most beautiful birds in the world.
4
Seaman / Clangula hyemalis
Photo by Sammy Sam at Picasa Web Albums / CC BY-SA
Long-tailed duck is also called a mall or a sauk. A small polar duck is easily recognizable by its unusual long tail in males. The slender tail males proudly hold high above the water.
One of the most common ducks of the north. According to zoologists, more than 4.5 million individuals nest on the northern coast of Russia alone. They have a small body with a rounded head. The tail of some males grows to 15 cm. Using the tail, males control their flight.
These ducks dive great and feel great in flight. Sailor is a very loud bird, and its cry can be heard in late spring - early summer, when the breeding season begins in birds.
5
Variegated Turpan / Melanitta perspicillata
Photo by Bill Bouton / CC BY-SA
The wingspan of this bird from the family of ducks reaches 90 cm, and the adult turpan grows up to 55 cm in length. The males have a black-white-red beak, because of which the whole species received an unusual name.
The color of the feathers is black, only males have two white spots on their heads. The female also has black feathers with a brownish tint. A silent bird, only during the breeding season males and females make unusual sounds. With an alarming cry, adults warn the chicks of danger.
Nest from Alaska to the Mackenzie River. In summer, they can be seen on the ocean coasts of the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean, as well as on the water surface of the Great Lakes.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru there is a fascinating article about the most beautiful lakes in the world.
6
American Savage / Oxyura jamaicensis
Photo by: Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) / CC BY-SA
In the photo, another representative of the family of Savannah, living in the vast territories of North America. Scientists distinguish three species, one of which acclimatized to live in the British Isles.
Nest in natural places near fresh water. They need a large area of open water, on which they land and take off. They feed on crustaceans, as well as seeds of coastal plants.
Virtually no sounds are made, only males make drumming sounds during the mating season. They fly rarely, preferring to spend time on the water. Nothing threatens the population except oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico.
7
Spectacled Eider / Somateria fischeri
The unusual bird got its name because of the characteristic color of the head. Around the eyes of the spectacle eider, swollen round spots resembling glasses.
This is a fairly large duck, reaching a weight of 1.4–1.7 kg. An amazing sea duck lived on the rocky coast of Alaska and Northeast Siberia. It makes nests in the small coastal zone of the tundra near swamps, flowing streams and rivers. It feeds, like most relatives of this species, on marine mollusks.
The population is declining sharply due to the development of the oil industry within the Arctic Ocean.
8
Savka / Oxyura leucocephala
Photo by: Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org/) / CC BY-SA
In the wild, you can find an unusual white-headed duck, which settled from Spain to western Mongolia and China. He spends his whole life in water and never goes on land.
Adults grow up to 45 cm in length. The duck saves in an original way, raising its tail high above the water. Because of the massive physique, they don’t like to fly, and in times of danger they dive deeply.
The number of this species is constantly decreasing due to the onset of a person on a habitual habitat. Contamination of water bodies and hunting leads to a reduction. A large number of birds die, entangled in fishing nets. In addition, Savka has many natural enemies.
9
Russian Crested / Russian Crested Duck
Crested ducks have been known since ancient times, and are bred as a decorative domestic breed. The most beautiful of all can be considered Russian crested.
This breed has a beautiful crest on its head, and the plumage has an attractive appearance. They have a calm disposition, and in maintenance they are unpretentious. They are completely illegible in food, and they eat everything in a row. With proper care, birds quickly gain weight.
They grow up to 2.5 kg, but should not be greatly fed. Thanks to their developed muscles, they are mobile, swim superbly. Farmers and breeders have noticed that the more crests of this breed, the more difficult it is for individuals to gain weight.
10
Mandarin / Aix galericulata
The most beautiful duck in nature, according to the editors of most-beauty, is a mandarin duck. It belongs to the genus of forest ducks. They settled in the countries of East Asia, and in Russia these beauties can be found within Sakhalin, the Amur Region and the Primorsky Territory.
They are small in size, the mass of which does not exceed 0.70 kg. Females and males vary in color. Males have a crest on their heads, and the color of the feathers is brighter than that of females. Males “dress” a particularly bright outfit during the mating season.
Mandarin ducks swim great and fly great. They dive very rarely, and sometimes they can be found on branches or coastal cliffs. In Chinese mythology, mandarin ducks are considered a symbol of fidelity.
🦆
Conclusion
Hunting for certain species of ducks is prohibited, since rare species are listed in the Red Book. Birds, including ducks, are widely represented in the art and culture of different peoples. In Slavic mythology, ducks accompanied the movement through the sky of Dazhdbog, and in ancient Greece Zeus often turned into a beautiful white swan. The emblems of some European and Russian cities depict ducks.
The editors of most-beauty.ru asks you to write in the comments to this article which beautiful ducks made the greatest impression on you, and which ducks we may have forgotten to write about.