Anas poecilorhyncha
The Indian Spot-billed Duck, *Anas poecilorhyncha*, is a distinctive and robust dabbling duck of the Indian subcontinent, easily recognized by the prominent yellow-tipped black bill adorned with two bright orange-red spots at its base, unique among its genus. This medium-sized duck typically measures 58-65 cm in length with a wingspan of approximately 83-93 cm and weighs between 1.2 and 1.5 kg. Its plumage is predominantly mottled dark brown with pale scaling, contrasting sharply with a darke...
This adaptable duck primarily inhabits a variety of freshwater wetlands, including lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, marshes, and agricultural rice paddies, typically found in lowland areas.
Their diet is omnivorous, primarily consisting of aquatic vegetation, seeds, grains, and a significant portion of aquatic invertebrates such as insects, larvae, and mollusks, obtained through dabbling in shallow waters.
Indian Spot-billed Ducks are primarily diurnal, spending their days foraging and resting, often congregating in communal roosts on open water or sheltered banks at night. Their foraging strategy involves dabbling – tipping their bodies forward to sift through shallow water for food, or occasional...
The Indian Spot-billed Duck is primarily distributed across the Indian subcontinent and parts of Southeast Asia. Its breeding range encompasses most of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and extends into parts of Thailand and Vietnam. This species is largely resident througho...
Least Concern
- The 'spot-billed' name comes from the distinct yellow-tipped black bill, which features two prominent orange-red spots at its base, a key identification mark. - Unlike many duck species, the Indian Spot-billed Duck exhibits very little sexual dimorphism; males and females look almost identical....