[ad_1]
The duck is one of the most common house birds in the world. You can find these diverse waterfowl on every continent except Antarctica and in a wide variety of habitats. However, most of them live in wetlands or other aquatic areas, including rivers, lakes, and nearby coasts. Although swans and geese belong to the same family, Anatidae, ducks look different than their long-necked cousins. Most ducks have a long, squat body and wide beak, as well as shorter, powerful wings and legs. Ducks can often be found pampering near the surface of the water or diving deep in search of food. Ducks come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and in a variety of shades of bright or dull feathers. However, how do you know for sure that the birds in your local pond are indeed ducks? After all, there are several different types of duck-like birds.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at 6 different duck-like birds. We will find out where these birds can be found, what they look like and some of their most interesting characteristics. So, the next time you encounter one of these birds in the wild, you can tell it apart from a duck. With that said, let’s get ready to dive into the world of duck-like birds.
# 6: Brant
The goose is a species of small goose and one of several geese and other duck-like birds. There are three different subspecies in total, which are found in arctic habitats in North America, Europe and Asia. In summer they migrate south to warmer climates, although some of them live year round in temperate coastal regions. Their diet consists mainly of aquatic plants such as kelp, seaweed, and sea salad. In addition, they also eat insects, shellfish and worms. Generally smaller than other geese, most geese are 22 to 26 inches long and weigh 1.9 to 4.9 pounds. Geese have white feathers under tall ones, which are usually dark and much shorter than other goose tails. Meanwhile, their neck plumage usually looks black with a thin white collar under the head. If you ever see him, just remember that geese have slightly longer neck and wings than ducks.
# 5: common moorhen
Moorhen, also known as swamp chick, is another duck-like bird. The common moorhen, a member of the railroad Rallidae family, is found in Europe, Africa and Asia. They usually live in wetlands, including swamps, lakes and rivers, and prefer a more temperate climate to a tropical or colder climate. Common moray eels feed mainly on aquatic vegetation, seeds, frogs and other small animals. Ordinary heathlands, which are very territorial, will drive other birds out of their spawning grounds, including ducks and other waterfowl. Devoted parents, mothers and fathers of common murkhans can carry their cubs on their backs to avoid being chased by predators. On average, they are 12 to 15 inches long. You can tell a common moorhen from a duck by the distinctive red shield on the face. In addition, they also have dark plumage and, unlike the duck, have no webbing on their paws.
# 4: Double-crested cormorant.
The cormorant cormorant is a member of the Phalacrocoracidae cormorant family. They are found throughout North America, with widespread distribution from Alaska to Mexico and the Caribbean. On average, they are 28 to 35 inches long and weigh 2.6 to 5.5 pounds. Like diving ducks, they mainly hunt by diving underwater to catch fish along with small amphibians and insects. Among duck-like birds, the bipedal cormorant has several unique characteristics that make it stand out. First, its plumage looks almost completely black, and it has two combs on its head. In addition, while the beak of most ducks looks flat and wide, the beak of the bipedal cormorant is pointed. In addition, unlike ducks, the feathers of two-legged cormorants do not repel water. Finally, while most ducks build nests on land, bipedal cormorants build nests from sticks in trees.
# 3: variegated beak
The speckled beak is a member of the Podicipediformes family of toadstools. He is known by many other names, including the Devil’s Bucket, Hell’s Diver, and the Water Witch. These names come from its ability to quickly dive underwater in search of food. They are common throughout America and especially live in wetlands such as ponds and lakes. Stunted, squat, speckled toadstools are usually 12 to 15 inches long and weigh between 0.5 and 1.25 pounds. Their plumage appears dark, which helps them blend in with their surroundings. Unlike ducks, the paws of a variegated beak are not webbed. Rather, their feet contain lobes that they use to paddle through the water. In addition, the beak of a variegated toadstool is short and has the shape of a chicken, in contrast to the wide, flat beak of a duck. Its beak is crossed by a black stripe, hence the term “variegated” comes from.
# 2: American prostitute
The American Coot, also known as the Dirty Chicken, is another member of the Rallidae rail family. The American Coot lives in the United States, Canada and Mexico, from where it got its name. They usually live in wetlands, including lakes, marshes, and coastlines. Their diet mainly consists of aquatic plants, although they also eat small mammals, amphibians, and shellfish, if any. Coots are usually 13 to 17 inches in length and 0.9 to 1.8 pounds in weight. They have a short white beak, face shield and dark gray plumage. Like other duck-like birds, the American coot is often mistaken for a duck. However, you can tell them apart by their legs because, unlike ducks, the American Coot has lobed, non-webbed feet. In addition, when they are on land, they walk with their toes crossed under their feet.
# 1: common loon
The common loon, known as the great northern diver in Europe, is a memb
er
of the Gaviidae loon family. The common loon spends summer on lakes in Canada, Greenland and the northern United States. Meanwhile, in winter, he lives off the coast of the United States, Mexico and Western Europe. Common loons feed on fish, crustaceans, insects, molluscs and aquatic vegetation that they catch by diving. Although it ranks among the duck-like birds, the common loon has a longer, thicker neck and longer beak than a duck. You can also recognize it by its unique plumage, which includes a variety of colors and patterns. Depending on the season, it can have a checkerboard pattern on its shoulders, a black or gray-brown upper body, and a dark gray-brown or shiny bluish-purple head and neck.
[ad_2]
Source link