Alternative Names (Synonyms)

Names for newly-hatched

Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases

References

Species Author

Major References

Aviculture references:
B7, B11.33.w1, B29, B30, B44.9.w1, B94, )
D1, D8
V.w3, V.w4, V.w12, V.w14

Other References

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

• Waterfowl
• Perching Ducks

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

Aviculture Information

Notes

• Perching Ducks and "geese" are generally happier maintained fully-flighted if possible, for example in an aviary for the smaller species, or under flight netting.
• While the larger species in this group are hardy, the smaller species may be more delicate and require winter shelter. These species eat a high proportion of vegetable matter and appreciate a grazing area. Most of these species are hole-nesters.
• Many of these species are sociable outside the breeding season, although Cairina moschata - Muscovy duck,  Cairina scutulata - White-winged duck, Pteronetta hartlaubii - Hartlaub's duck and Plectropterus gambensis - Spur-winged goose can all be aggressive and require separate enclosures.

(B7, B11.33.w1, B94, D1)

Species-specific information:

• White-winged ducks (white-winged wood-ducks) are usually maintained in large open-topped enclosures, although they have also been kept full-winged in aviaries. They appreciate the presence of some areas of natural vegetation cover such as bamboo in the pen although they can be maintained in quite open pens. Adults may be fed waterfowl maintenance pellets or a mixture of wheat and waterfowl maintenance pellets, changing to breeder pellets for the spring and summer (breeding season). Given the chance they will supplement this diet with items such as fish and frogs, and a duck has been observed to eat a mallard duckling.
• They may be kept as a single pair in their own enclosure, but have also been kept as a trio (male and two females) and in larger groups (as many as seven or eight birds in a large enclosure), although an excess of males would not be recommended (V.w14). Breeding pairs may be aggressive to other white-winged ducks but tolerant of other duck species (e.g. dabbling ducks) and even small geese (V.w12); however they may sometimes be aggressive to other ducks in the breeding season (V.w15).
• These endangered ducks were considered difficult to breed, but are now bred regularly in a number of collections. Raised nest boxes, e.g. four feet (1.2 metres) off the ground, or a treestump with a branch acting as a ladder to an entrance hole only 9-12 inches (23-30cm) off the ground are used (V.w14), and even a horizontally-positioned milk churn (V.w15). Eggs are laid mainly end of April to June.
• Although eggs have sometimes been parent incubated, and removed at chipping/hatching (V.w15), ducklings have then been hand-reared as dabbling ducks, initially in brooder boxes off water and moving to outside pens with access to water by about 3-4 weeks old (V.w14), or with access to water delayed until they are feathered (V.w15). Initial starter crumbs may be supplemented by a softbill-type insectivorous food or mealworms, with older ducklings being fed grower pellets or seaduck diet and later grower diet mixed with wheat.
• N.B. these ducks are highly susceptible to Avian Tuberculosis (V.w3, V.w4,); the presence of planted areas for hiding should be balanced against the increased risk of the survival of the causative bacterium (Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex) in shady conditions.

(B11.33.w1, B29, B30, B44.9.w1, V.w3, V.w4, V.w12, V.w14, V.w15)

Aviornis UK Ringing Scheme recommended average ring size: R 16.0mm (males) or P 14.0mm (females) (wild-type only)(D8).

Management Techniques

Measurement & Weight

Head

Legs

Plumage

(B3, B6, B8, B25, B26)

Geographical variation:- head and neck pure white in some areas, and white may extend to breast and sometimes abdomen.
(B3, B6, B25, B26)

Newly-hatched Characteristics

Nest placement and structure

Egg clutches

Incubation

Hatching

Fledging

Sexual Maturity

Feeding Behaviour

Parental Behaviour

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Social Behaviour

Sexual Behaviour

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

Adults

Newly-hatched

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

South-east Asia: eastern India, Burma, Thailand, central-southern Laos and Vietnam, Sumatra and Java; Malaya (possibly vagrant) (B19)

Sedentary, only local movements (B1)

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Habitat

Intraspecific variation

Conservation Status

Endangered, with marked decline during the twentieth century (B1, B8, B44.9.w1)

Captive Populations

Trade