Marbled Duck
Marbled Duck
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The Marbled Duck is a medium-sized diving duck with a distinctive mottled brown and beige plumage that gives it a 'marbled' appearance. It has a relatively long neck, a shaggy head crest, and a dark eye-patch that makes it look like it's wearing a mask. This species is often found in brackish or saline wetlands.
Where to spot
Found in scattered populations across the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, and Central Asia, extending to parts of the Middle East and India. Favors shallow, temporary, or brackish wetlands, often with dense emergent vegetation.
How to spot
Look for its overall mottled brownish plumage, shaggy crest, and dark eye-patch. It has a relatively long neck for a diving duck. Often found in small flocks, feeding by dabbling or shallow diving in vegetated waters.
When to spot
Can be observed year-round in areas with resident populations. Migratory populations are best seen during spring and autumn migrations (March-May and September-November) to and from their breeding grounds.
Where to spot
Found in scattered populations across the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, and Central Asia, extending to parts of the Middle East and India. Favors shallow, temporary, or brackish wetlands, often with dense emergent vegetation.
How to spot
Look for its overall mottled brownish plumage, shaggy crest, and dark eye-patch. It has a relatively long neck for a diving duck. Often found in small flocks, feeding by dabbling or shallow diving in vegetated waters.
When to spot
Can be observed year-round in areas with resident populations. Migratory populations are best seen during spring and autumn migrations (March-May and September-November) to and from their breeding grounds.
Credits:
By © Francis C. Franklin / CC-BY-SA-3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32201283
The Marbled Duck is unique among diving ducks for its diet, which consists mainly of aquatic insects and larvae, rather than mostly plant matter or fish.
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