White-winged Duck
Malays duck ( Cairina scutulata )
The Malays duck ( Cairina scutulata ), and White-winged ( Musk ) duck, is a representative of the authentics ducks of the genus Cairina. She is threatened with extinction and listed in the IUCN Red List 2004 and in Annex I of CITES. The population is estimated at fewer than 450 copies.
Appearance
The body feathers are mostly brown in color, head and neck are white spotted, denser in females than in drakes. The applied wings are brown with a few white spots, opened outweighs the white, hence the alternative name " White -winged Teal " (English White-winged ( Wood) Duck).
Way of life
The Malays duck inhabits forested wetlands in India and Southeast Asia. Due to deforestation and reclamation and the associated reduction of the habitat is threatened by extinction. The animals are mainly active at dawn and feed on plants, seeds, fish, snails, spiders and insects.
The moult takes place in September or October and the animals are, as in most of the larger species of ducks, during this time, unable to fly.
Reproduction
The Malays duck broods in the late dry season. The nest is created on trees, 3-12 m above the ground. The female lays up to 16 eggs, the incubation period of 33 days. The chicks hatch with the onset of the first heavy rains and are cared for 14 days from the parents.
Raising and breeding in captivity
Since these breeds of ducks is threatened in their existence ( IUCN Status EN ), operate several zoos in Europe a cross-national breeding program. In addition, in Dibru - Saikhowa National Park live in Assam (India) protected populations of the Malays duck.