Pygmy goose
Coromandel dwarf duck on a body of water in Kolkata, India
The Call ducks ( Nettapus ) are a genus of Anatidae, and are attributed to the dabbling ducks. The genus includes three tropical species that are native to Australia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Madagascar. They are among the smallest duck species worldwide. The Indian pygmy duck native to Asia nominate the Coromandel Pygmy Goose, is considered the smallest duck at all.
Appearance
Call ducks reach a body size of 27-37 inches. There are very compact built duck with a short beak. In the African Pygmy Goose, the beak is very straight forward over the forehead. The resulting wedge-shaped head profile is reminiscent of the geese, which has resulted in English usage to the term Pigmy Goose. The head profile of the other two species, the Coromandel Pygmy Goose and the Australian Pygmy Goose, however, is rounded. All three species have relatively short legs. They are therefore not particularly agile on land. They spend the majority of their lives on the water.
The males of the Coromandel dwarf duck have a predominantly pale body plumage. A striking feature of her is the dark breast band, which distinctively sets itself apart from the rest of the bright body plumage. The jacket plumage is greenish with them. In the Australian dwarf duck the green back colouration in males is more pronounced. The flanks are scaled striking. The most colorful plumage has the African Pygmy Goose. In her flanks and breast are of a bright, bright maroon. What is striking is the powder green, black outlined face spot, which also plays a role in Balzrepertoire.
The females generally have a slightly unscheinbareres body plumage. With them outweigh brownish gray and brown hues. In all three species, the females have a gray- brown eyes glancing. The young birds are similar to females, but have regular brown larger shares in the plumage.
Distribution area
Call ducks are tropical ducks. Their range includes sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asian island groups such as Borneo and Java, South China, New Guinea and Australia.
The flachenmäßigste smallest distribution area has the Australian Pygmy Goose, which has its main range in the tropical north of Australia and in New Guinea. Its distribution area overlaps in northeastern Queensland with the Coromandel dwarf duck. The range of this species extends from the Indian subcontinent over Sri Lanka and southern China over the Andaman Islands, the northern Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi and north of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. Vagrants of this kind reach but also regularly Bahrain and Oman.
The African Pygmy Goose has no overlap in the distribution area with the other two species. Its distribution extends from Senegal and Ethiopia to the eastern subtropical regions of the Republic of South Africa. She came in historical times also in Zanzibar and is a breeding bird of the island of Pemba. To their area of distribution also includes Madagascar, where they are particularly abundant in the western and northern lowlands.
The stock numbers of the Call ducks are not very high. In their range they usually occur only sparsely.
Habitat and food
All three species prefer quiet fresh waters with a rich vegetation floating plants. Both the Australian and the African Pygmy Goose mainly use with water lilies lined waters. You taking for even very small bodies of water. The Coromandel dwarf duck can be observed on the park and pond temples in Asia, for example, frequently, provided they have a sufficient water vegetation.
All three species rest during the day hiding in the floating plants vegetation. Although their plumage acts partly very rich in contrast, they are hardly to be discovered between the leaves. They take their mostly plant food to the water surface. The extent to which the African Pygmy Goose also diving finds its food, is controversial in the literature. In captivity, it has also been observed that females of the African Pygmy Goose down plant stems with seed heads turn to the water surface and summon the male to eat. This behavior has been observed at least once in wild African dwarf ducks. Lily seeds play a very important role in the food composition at the Australian and the African Pygmy Goose. Changes in the floating plants vegetation by introduced fish species such as tilapia ( in Africa and Madagascar ), or even a change in the composition of vegetation by introduced water buffalo ( Australia) lead to a decline in the number of individuals.
Reproduction
None of the three species has an extensive and striking repertoire of Balzgesten. The pair bond seems to exist in all three species over several reproductive periods. The male plays a role in keeping the chicks. However, it alone incubates the female. As Niststandort tree hollows are used preferably. The trees usually are doing in the immediate vicinity waters. The Coromandel Pygmy Goose also uses the building for their brood. The African Pygmy Goose sets occasionally nest in the dense reeds. It also uses abandoned nests of the hammer head for their breeding.
Attitude in captivity
Call ducks are very delicate captives that are in accordance with rarely seen in zoos or held by individuals as an ornamental poultry. Holding trials there since the 1930s. In general, the duck does not survive the acclimatization period. In the second half of the 20th century, the holding facilities and the opportunities to offer the duck special food improved. Walsrode Bird Park held such as the Coromandel dwarf duck in one of its halls tropics. Where Call ducks were successfully acclimated, but remained as a rule of the offspring. So the Welterstzucht took place at the Coromandel dwarf duck only in 1989 by a British breeder. In the Australian dwarf duck breeding success remained at least until 1999. The breeding success in the African Pygmy Goose are slightly higher compared to other duck species but very low.
Species
- Coromandel Pygmy Goose ( Nettapus coromandelianus ) Indian pygmy duck ( Nettapus coromandelianus coromandelianus )
- Australian pygmy duck ( Nettapus coromandelianus albipennis )