Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis hybridisation

17 feb 2011

page 6 - nrs 1 to 15

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis hybridisation

Pair formation in Oldsquaws takes place in winter, beginning in November. Some individuals however are still unpaired in April and that calls for action! In April 2008 I noted a tiny duck amongst a band of highly excited Mallard males. The wee duck turned out to be a male Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis. He was already in full command and kept his newly found treasure well apart from her other suitors by literally jumping on their backs in full flight, a similar tactic was used in an
attempt to mount the gigantic love of his life but this was still not well understood by her. The little one stayed by her side and no doubt sooner or later will succeed in raising a family of intriguing hybrids!

>>>Kalle Rainio from Finland responds:
The handbook of the avian hybrids by McCarthy does not list
any long-tailed duck hybrids, while it lists about 30 crosses for Mallard...
- for example there are many reports of Mallard x Goldeneye hybrids.
Thus it is interesting to see if the courtship leads to the actual hybridization!

>>>Dr. Harry J Lehto from Finland writes:
A Long-tailed Duck male has hybridized with a Chestnut teal ( Anas castanea) female.
(Gillham & Gillham Hybrid ducks referring to Delacour 1956 (54-59), Waterfowl of the world).

>>>Tor Bollingmo from Norway remarks:
The male on the pictures is an immature 2nd cal. year bird, as can be seen
from the short tail and the pale spot on the bill. First spring hormones is
probably making the bird overreacting a bit at the sight of the nice mallard
female, (who should know better!). It is questionable whether the
Long-tailed yougster is capable of producing offspring. (But it´s worth
while trying ...)

ducks6oldsquaw clangula hyemalis/050 Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis & Mallard mate 07042008 Philipsdam,The Netherlands 5.jpg

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis & Mallard mate 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis escorting mate 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis courting Mallard mate07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis courting female Mallard 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis in pursuit of female Mallard 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis on hybridisation trip 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis dating Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis chasing competitors 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis "forget 't boys, she is mine!" 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis shaking off male Mallards 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis ignoring displaying Mallard male 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis loyal page 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis male moulting to breeding plumage 07042008 Philipsdam, The Netherlands

Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis female 13072007 Port of Rotterdam, The Netherlands

	DUCKS
	1-Casarca Tadorna ferruginea
	2-Teal Anas crecca
	3-Gadwall Anas strepera
	4-Shelduck
	5-Hybrid Aythya collaris
	*6-Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis* hybridisation**
	7-Shoveler Anas clypeata
	8-Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
	9-Ring-necked ducks
	10-Falcated Duck Anas falcata
	11-Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis NAVIGATIONPAGE ALL CHAPTERS RADIOACTIVE ROBINS