Wildlifeof Nepal
Falcated Duck
Ducks, Geese & Grebes
Photo: (c) nmoorhatch, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Mareca falcata
Basic stats
Habitat
Nests near water, sometimes in small bushes about 80m away
Range
Breeds in East Siberia, Mongolia and northern Japan; winters to India and Southeast Asia
Clutch size
6–10 eggs
Size
46–53cm
Wingspan
79–91cm
Weight
422–770g
The falcated duck is a dabbling duck of the east Palearctic, about the size of a gadwall, 46 to 53cm long with a wingspan of 79 to 91cm. Most of the male's plumage is finely vermiculated grey, with long sickle-shaped tertials hanging off the back that give the species its name. The large head is dark green with a white throat and a bronzed crown. The female is dark brown, much like a female wigeon (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds in eastern Asia and is strongly migratory, wintering in much of Southeast Asia and India. It is gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large flocks. Eggs are laid from about late May, six to ten per clutch, pinkish-yellow tinged white, usually near water. The sources opened give no Nepal-specific information.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Falcated Duck live in?
- Nests near water, sometimes in small bushes about 80m away
- Where is the Falcated Duck found?
- Breeds in East Siberia, Mongolia and northern Japan; winters to India and Southeast Asia
- How many eggs does the Falcated Duck lay?
- 6–10 eggs
- How big is the Falcated Duck?
- 46–53cm
- What is the wingspan of the Falcated Duck?
- 79–91cm
- How much does the Falcated Duck weigh?
- 422–770g