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Home , Anatinae, Perching duck

Waterfowl – What they are and are not

Great variety in sizes, shapes, colors

All have webbed feet and bills

Sibley reading is great for lots of facts and insights into the group

Order

Family – 154 species worldwide, 44 in NA

Subfamily Dendrocygninae – whistling Subfamily – geese & Subfamily - ducks

Handout

• Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID Ducks = ??

Handout

• Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID

Ducks = 26 species

Geese = ??

Handout

• Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID

Ducks = 26 species

Geese = 6 (3 are rare)

Swans = ??

Handout

• Indicates those species occurring regularly in ID

Ducks = 26 species Geese = 6 Swans = 2

What separates the 3 groups?

Ducks -

Geese -

Swan -

What separates the 3 groups?

Ducks – smaller, shorter legs & necks

Geese – long legs, graze in uplands

Swan – shorter legs than geese, long necks, larger size, feed more often in water

Non-waterfowl

Cranes, rails – , rails have lobed feet Coots – bill but lobed feet – lobed feet – webbed feet but sharp beak Woodcock and snipe – feet not webbed,

These are not on handout but are managed by USFWS as are waterfowl

On handout:

Subfamily Dendrocygninae – whistling ducks – used to be called tree ducks

2 species, more -like, longer necks and legs than most ducks, flight is faster than geese, but slower than other ducks

Occur along gulf coast and Florida On handout:

Subfamily Anserinae – geese and swans Tribe Cygnini – swans – 2 species

Tribe Anserini – geese – 6 spp that occur in ID; but Emperor Goose, Ross’ Goose and Brant are rare - 3 common species are??

On handout:

Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood is called a

On handout:

Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks, 5 species

On handout:

Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks, 5 species Tribe – sea ducks, 10 species in ID, but only 6 are common On handout:

Subfamily Anatinae – ducks, with 4 tribes Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks, 10 species in ID, wood duck is called a perching duck Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks, 5 species Tribe Mergini – sea ducks, 10 species in ID, but only 6 are common Tribe – stiff-tailed ducks, 1 species Swans - Cygnini

Trumpeter swan and tundra swan Sexes look alike Monogamous, pair bond formed in winter, mate for life; young are called cygnets Require large territory for nesting – 30-70 hectares generally on shore or small islands Feed in water, tip-up, eat plants (pondweeds, milfoils, sedges) Swans:

Largest waterfowl but how much do they weigh? Swans:

Largest waterfowl but how much do they weigh?

Tundra swan – 13-16 pounds Trumpeter - ??? Swans:

Largest waterfowl but how much do they weigh?

Tundra swan – 13-16 pounds Trumpeter swan – 22-28 pounds

Long-lived species – sexually mature at: Tundra – 3-4 years, Trumpeter – 4-6 years Swans:

Both species lay 4-5 , only female incubates, 31-33 days Very high nest success – 90% Why is nest success so high? Swans:

Both species lay 4-5 eggs, only female incubates, 31-33 days Very high nest success – 90% Why is nest success so high? – attentive parents, few nest predators Both parents care for young, still lose 30%-50%+ of young, long flightless period – 8-10 weeks for Tundra, 13-17 weeks for Trumpeter

Swans – differences between species: Voice, yellow spot in front of eye of Tundra sometimes Tundra – very social outside breeding season – 1000’s, Trumpeter in small groups – 20-50 Hunted? Trumpeter – no, as many as 40,000 Tundra – yes, 200,000+ in breeding population, hunted in MT, UT, NV, NC, MD ID and WA projects Geese - Tribe Anserini

All show several similarities: is not sexually dimorphic

Geese - Tribe Anserini

All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Geese - Tribe Anserini

All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Highly gregarious Geese - Tribe Anserini

All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Highly gregarious Breed in open situations

Geese - Tribe Anserini

All show several similarities: Plumage is not sexually dimorphic Feed by grazing Highly gregarious Breed in open situations Non-breeders form molting flocks in summer, are joined by breeders a few weeks later Geese - Anserini

Migratory and some species have a molt migration

Geese - Anserini

Migratory and some species have a molt migration

During fall and winter the unit stays together and in larger flocks

Winter behavior is to gather in large concentrations in open areas, make morning and evening flights to feed

Canada Goose – canadensis

In 2004 the 11 subspecies of Canada goose were re-categorized into 2 species:

– Canada Goose – with 7 subspecies (large)

– – with 4 subspecies (small) Canada Goose – Branta canadensis

7 subspecies – large bodies, interior B.c. parvipes Lesser 5-6 pounds B.c. canadensis Atlantic 6.8-8.8 lbs B.c. interior Hudson Bay 7-9 lbs B.c. occidentalis Dusky 8-9 lbs dark B.c. fulva Vancouver 8-9 lbs dark B.c. moffitti Great Basin 8-10 lbs B.c. maxima Giant 11-12 lbs

Cackling Goose – Branta hutchinsii

4 subspecies – all smaller than Canada geese, breeds more in coastal regions of NW

B.h. minima Cackling 2.8-3.4 lbs B.h. leucopareia Aleutian 4 lbs B.h. hutchinsii Richardson’s 4 lbs B.h. taverneri Taverner’s 4.7-5.9 lbs – (overlap with Lesser Canada goose) Why are these subspecies important? Several subspecies are uncommon, and management is aimed at them

Subspecies often overlap in breeding and wintering ranges

Geese are managed by populations Canada Goose - Ecology

Monogamous, highly social, Begin to breed at 2, most at 3, equal sex ratio Mortality rates from 25-50% per year depending on human exploitation Grazers – especially cereal grains, clovers, alfalfa therefore lots of management involves planted foods Canada goose (cont.)

Pair in winter, for life, migrate N in spring Territorial – nests elevated, islands, osprey nests Both parents stay at nest, female inc., 5-6 eggs

Canada goose (cont.)

Pair in winter, for life, migrate N in spring Territorial – nests elevated, islands, osprey nests Both parents stay at nest, female inc., 5-6 eggs Predators on eggs – skunks, foxes, coyotes, ravens, crows, magpies Incubation is 25-30 days, nest success = 70% A small % of females renest (10%) – define? Goslings fly at 7-10 weeks

Subfamily Anatinae – Ducks

Tribe Anatini – dabbling ducks

Only 2 genera in North America

Tribe Anatini - Dabblers

Dabblers all spring up off the water or land to fly

All dabble, or tip up, to feed, but many also feed on land

Rarely dive but can Dabblers vs others

Legs near center of body legs back Tip up dive Hind toe not lobed hind toe lobed

Dabblers vs others

Legs near center of body legs back Tip up dive Hind toe not lobed hind toe lobed Foot smaller foot larger Iridescent speculum dull speculum Tail held clear of water tail in water Spring up run along surface

Dabblers

Most field guides have the speculum much too visible for the at rest

Most field guides also have divers and sea ducks sitting too high in the water

Aix sponsa – wood duck

Also called a perching duck – its legs are even more forward then other dabblers, well adapted to perching in trees

Sharp claws and well-developed hind toes

Nest in cavities, usually over water, 2-20 m up Anas

Highly social (1000s), especially in winter All migratory, some use both fresh and estuarine wetlands during the year Often winter in huge mixed species flocks Anas

Highly social (1000s), especially in winter All migratory, some use both fresh and estuarine wetlands during the year Often winter in huge mixed species flocks Divide up foraging areas by water depth All nest on the ground, none in cavities No long-term pair bonds, monogamous until incubation begins, then male leaves Anas (cont.)

All incubate 21-27 days, young fly at 38-70 days Teal, green and blue-winged lay 8-11 eggs lays 7-12 eggs

Northern pintail lays 6-9 eggs, often nests far from water lays 7-10 eggs, largest population in NA

Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks or pochards (5 species): Aythya

All dive for food Generally nest over water Sex ratios 60% + males Monogamous, male defends the female

Tribe Aythyini – diving ducks or pochards (5 species):Genus Aythya

All dive for food Generally nest over water Sex ratios 60% + males Monogamous, male defends the female Male leaves during incubation Many first year females do not breed 7-12 eggs, first flight for young is at 40-68 days

Aythya

Divide water area by depths and foods 3-4 feet, eats more plants Canvasback 3-6 feet, eats plants, inverts Ring-necked duck <6 ft, eats more snails, inverts Greater scaup 6-15 ft, eats clams, often marine 10-40 ft, eats clams, inverts, snails

Aythya

Brood behavior when threatened: Divers vs dabblers Dabblers - ? Divers -?

Aythya

Brood behavior when threatened: Divers vs dabblers Dabblers – seek cover in emergent veg. Divers -?

Aythya

Brood behavior when threatened: Divers vs dabblers Dabblers – seek cover in emergent veg. Divers – move to open water and may dive

Redhead is a brood parasite

Female uses one of three strategies: incubates own clutch incubates own clutch and parasitize other nests entirely parasitic on canvasback and redhead

Canvasbacks parasitized by redheads generally not as successful in producing their own ducklings Tribe Mergini – sea ducks

Most species associated with coastal and estuarine waters, but many found inland on freshwater lakes and larger rivers

Eiders, mergansers, , goldeneyes, , long-tailed duck, bufflehead

Tribe Oxyurini – Stiff-tailed Ducks

8 species worldwide, one in NA – ruddy duck long, stiff tail Large bills, clumsy on land, nest over water

Very large for size of bird, 6-8, will parasitize each other and redheads Eat aquatic inverts, snail, plants in winter

The End

Waterfowl are wonderful!