White-cheeked Pintail - Anas bahamensis

White-cheeked Pintail

Anas bahamensis

Order : Anseriformes

Family : Anatidae ;

Biometrics :

Size : 41 à 51 cm
Wingspan :
Weight : 400 à 700 gr

IUCN conservation status :

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Geographic range :

Synonyms : Шилохвость Бага (ru), Bahamaand (sv), Anade Gargantillo (es), Codone guancebianche (it), Bahamaente (al), Bahamapijlstaart (nl), White-cheeked Pintail (en)

Physical description :
White-cheeked Pintail is a medium-sized dabbling duck.
Adult has brown upperparts with black feathers bordered with pale buff on back. Tail is pointed and yellowish. Wing coverts are brown. Great coverts have yellowish tips. Tertials are blackish with pale brown edges. Secondaries bases show metallic green band and black sub terminal band with broad yellowish edge on the tip.
Underparts are warm brown, spotted with black on breast and belly. Undertail coverts are yellowish. Underwing is dark, except paler central band, blackish flight feathers and pale trailing edge.
Crown and nape are brown, slightly spotted with dark. Sides of the head, throat and upper neck are pure white. Bill is blue-grey with red sides at base of upper mandible, and black nail. Eyes are brown. Legs and webbed feet are dark grey.
Both sexes are similar, but female has duller bill and face, and shorter tail. Female is slightly smaller than male.
Juvenile resembles adults, but with slightly duller bill and plumage.

We can find three races: Anas bahamensis bahamensis, from Caribbean. Anas bahamensis galapagensis, from Galapagos, smaller and duller. Anas bahamensis rubirostris, from South America, larger and paler. This one is partially migratory, breeding in Argentina and moving northwards to winter.

Voice : White-cheeked Pintail is relatively silent. Male may utter a low whistle, and female weak quacking descending in pitch.

Habitat : White-cheeked Pintail lives in brackish and salt water, such as ponds, lagoons, lakes, mangroves, estuaries, but also shallow freshwater ponds and lakes, and open wet areas. It may be found from sea level to 2500 metres of elevation in Bolivia.
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: White-cheeked Pintail lives in Caribbean, South America and Galapagos Islands. Birds from Caribbean move to Texas and Florida.

Behaviour : White-cheeked Pintail feeds by dabbling and up-ending its body into the water, to reach deeper food.
It is usually seen alone or in pairs, or in small group of 10 to 12 birds, but also in larger flocks of up to 100 birds and more.
It is a fearful and shy bird.

Flight : White-cheeked Pintail performs fast and agile flight.

Reproduction-nesting : White-cheeked Pintail pair forms after post-breeding moult. Breeding varies according to the range.
Nest is situated on the ground, near water. It is concealed among and under the vegetation of the shore, or among the roots in mangroves.
Female lays 6 to 10 creamy eggs. Incubation lasts about 25 to 26 days.

Food habits : White-cheeked Pintail feeds on small aquatic animals, and seeds of aquatic vegetation, but also algae.

Protection / threats : White-cheeked Pintail populations seem to be stable. Some smaller populations as Galapagos subspecies may be threatened due to reduced distribution.

Other links :
Iucn
Birdlife

Specification sheet created by Nicole Bouglouan

Qui sommes-nous ? L'association | Mentions légales | Sources | Contacts | Print version
Updated on 2008/05/02 05:35:43 - © 1996-2008 Oiseaux.net