Indian-Spot Billed Duck

About Indian-Spot Billed Duck:

• It is a large dabbling duck that is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent.
• The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population.  
• Scientific Name: Anas poecilorhyncha
• Distribution and Habitat:
  • It is a resident throughout Pakistan and India in freshwater wetlands.
  • They inhabit both inland and coastal wetlands such as ponds, lakes, pools, streams, creeks, estuaries, tidal flats and marshes.
  • They tend to avoid very large patches of open water and prefer medium-sized wetlands with vegetation cover.
• Features:
  • It has a scaly patterned body with a green speculum and a band of white tertials.
  • It measures 55–63 cm in length and 83–95 cm across the wings, with a body mass of 790–1,500 g. Males are larger than females.
  • These are mainly grey ducks with a paler head and neck and a black bill tipped bright yellow. 
  • The wings are whitish with black flight feathers below, and from above show a white-bordered green.
  • The legs and feet are bright orange to coral red. Juveniles are browner and duller than adults.
  • Feeding Habits: They mostly feed on grasses and other vegetations. Sometimes they may feed on insects.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Q1) What are estuaries?

Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water—a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater.

Source: Rare leucistic Indian spot-billed duck spotted in water body near Tiruppur