The white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) is a small diving duck some 45 cm (18 in) long. The male has a white head with black crown, a blue bill, and reddish-grey plumage. The female has a dark bill and rather duller colouring. Its breeding habitat is lakes with open water and dense vegetation at the margin. It dives under water and feeds on aquatic vegetation as well as some animal matter. It is more likely to swim away from a perceived threat than to fly. This duck is known from Spain, North Africa, Western Asia and Central Asia. Populations are declining, mostly due to loss of habitat and pollution, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird's status as "endangered".
The white-headed duck was originally described as Anas leucocephala by Giovani Antonio Scopoli in 1769. It is currently in the genus Oxyura. Other generic synonyms used in the past include Erismatura, Cerconectes, Gymnura, Undina, Bythonessa, Plectrura, and Pervicauda. Other junior synonyms for the species include Anas mersa, Anas vindila, Anas ruthenica, and Oxyura unifasciata. Its scientific name comes from the GreekOxyura (from oxus, "sharp", and oura, "tail") and leucocephala (from leukos, "white" and kephalos, "head".[3] The common name white-headed duck, like the specific name, refers to its white head.[4]
It interbreeds with other species in its genus, such as the ruddy duck. The hybrids are fully fertile and capable of having viable offspring with both parent species.[4]
The species is monotypic. Different populations of the white-headed duck do not display significant genetic differences. However, some studies have found that they do display morphological differences, with western populations being larger in size, having darker ventral coloration, and males having more yellow feathers on their back. Dark phase birds have only been found in the western populations.[4]
In the genus Oxyura, it is generally thought to be related most closely to Maccoa duck. Some studies have also found that these two species form a clade with the blue-billed duck, although this is disputed and species relations between Oxyura ducks are unresolved.[4]
Descriptionedit
Adult males have a grey and reddish body, a blue bill and a largely white head with a black cap and neck. Adult females have a grey-brown body with a white face and a darker bill, cap, and cheek stripe. Length is 43–48 cm (17–19 in) and weight is 580–750 g (1.28–1.65 lb).
This duck breeds in Spain and North Africa, with a larger population in western and central Asia. Their breeding habitat is large tracts of open water, such as lakes and ponds including artificial water bodies, with dense stands of aquatic plants to provide shelter and nesting sites.[5] Individuals are fairly frequently reported well north of their breeding range, but as with many wildfowl, the status of these extralimital records is clouded by the possibility of escapes from collections.
Behaviour and ecologyedit
Dietedit
These birds dive and swim under water. They are omnivorous, with vegetable matter predominating. They are reluctant to fly, preferring to swim for cover.
Conservationedit
This duck is considered endangered due to a large reduction in populations in the last 10 years. Most of this decline is due to habitat loss and hunting, but interbreeding of the Spanish population with the introduced ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) is a more recent threat. This has led to the attempted eradication of the American species from western Europe.
The white-headed duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird's conservation status as being "endangered".[1]
Referencesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2017). "Oxyura leucocephala". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22679814A119403602. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22679814A119403602.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Jobling, James. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. ChristopherHelm. p. 223.
^ abcdSalvador, Alfredo; Amat, Juan A.; Green, Andy J. (2020-12-18). Billerman, Shawn M; Keeney, Brooke K (eds.). "White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala)". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.whhduc1.02.
^White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) in Armenia. 2017. In online publication: "The State of Breeding Birds of Armenia". TSE NGO, Armenian Bird Census Council. Retrieved on 10 October 2017.
Further readingedit
Gantlett, Steve (1993) The status and separation of White-headed Duck and Ruddy Duck Birding World 6(7): 273-281
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oxyura leucocephala.
ARKive -
BirdLife Species Factsheet
January 01, 1970
white, headed, duck, white, headed, duck, oxyura, leucocephala, small, diving, duck, some, long, male, white, head, with, black, crown, blue, bill, reddish, grey, plumage, female, dark, bill, rather, duller, colouring, breeding, habitat, lakes, with, open, wat. The white headed duck Oxyura leucocephala is a small diving duck some 45 cm 18 in long The male has a white head with black crown a blue bill and reddish grey plumage The female has a dark bill and rather duller colouring Its breeding habitat is lakes with open water and dense vegetation at the margin It dives under water and feeds on aquatic vegetation as well as some animal matter It is more likely to swim away from a perceived threat than to fly This duck is known from Spain North Africa Western Asia and Central Asia Populations are declining mostly due to loss of habitat and pollution and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird s status as endangered White headed duck Male in summer Female Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Genus Oxyura Species O leucocephala Binomial name Oxyura leucocephala Scopoli 1769 Oxyura leucocephala range Breeding Resident Non breeding Passage Vagrant seasonality uncertain Probably extinct Contents 1 Taxonomy and systematics 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour and ecology 4 1 Diet 5 Conservation 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksTaxonomy and systematics editThe white headed duck was originally described as Anas leucocephala by Giovani Antonio Scopoli in 1769 It is currently in the genus Oxyura Other generic synonyms used in the past include Erismatura Cerconectes Gymnura Undina Bythonessa Plectrura and Pervicauda Other junior synonyms for the species include Anas mersa Anas vindila Anas ruthenica and Oxyura unifasciata Its scientific name comes from the Greek Oxyura from oxus sharp and oura tail and leucocephala from leukos white and kephalos head 3 The common name white headed duck like the specific name refers to its white head 4 It interbreeds with other species in its genus such as the ruddy duck The hybrids are fully fertile and capable of having viable offspring with both parent species 4 The species is monotypic Different populations of the white headed duck do not display significant genetic differences However some studies have found that they do display morphological differences with western populations being larger in size having darker ventral coloration and males having more yellow feathers on their back Dark phase birds have only been found in the western populations 4 In the genus Oxyura it is generally thought to be related most closely to Maccoa duck Some studies have also found that these two species form a clade with the blue billed duck although this is disputed and species relations between Oxyura ducks are unresolved 4 Description editAdult males have a grey and reddish body a blue bill and a largely white head with a black cap and neck Adult females have a grey brown body with a white face and a darker bill cap and cheek stripe Length is 43 48 cm 17 19 in and weight is 580 750 g 1 28 1 65 lb nbsp Male in winterDistribution and habitat edit nbsp Egg collection Museum Wiesbaden This duck breeds in Spain and North Africa with a larger population in western and central Asia Their breeding habitat is large tracts of open water such as lakes and ponds including artificial water bodies with dense stands of aquatic plants to provide shelter and nesting sites 5 Individuals are fairly frequently reported well north of their breeding range but as with many wildfowl the status of these extralimital records is clouded by the possibility of escapes from collections Behaviour and ecology editDiet edit These birds dive and swim under water They are omnivorous with vegetable matter predominating They are reluctant to fly preferring to swim for cover Conservation editThis duck is considered endangered due to a large reduction in populations in the last 10 years Most of this decline is due to habitat loss and hunting but interbreeding of the Spanish population with the introduced ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis is a more recent threat This has led to the attempted eradication of the American species from western Europe The white headed duck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds AEWA applies and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the bird s conservation status as being endangered 1 References edit a b BirdLife International 2017 Oxyura leucocephala IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22679814A119403602 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T22679814A119403602 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Jobling James The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names ChristopherHelm p 223 a b c d Salvador Alfredo Amat Juan A Green Andy J 2020 12 18 Billerman Shawn M Keeney Brooke K eds White headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala Birds of the World doi 10 2173 bow whhduc1 02 White headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala in Armenia 2017 In online publication The State of Breeding Birds of Armenia TSE NGO Armenian Bird Census Council Retrieved on 10 October 2017 Further reading editGantlett Steve 1993 The status and separation of White headed Duck and Ruddy Duck Birding World 6 7 273 281External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oxyura leucocephala ARKive images and movies of the white headed duck Oxyura leucocephala BirdLife Species Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title White headed duck amp oldid 1180279071, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
