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Information About

Mexican Duck




  Name Mexican Duck
  Regnum Animalia
  Phylum Chordata
  Classis Aves
  Ordo Anseriformes
  Familia Anatidae
  Genus ''''' Anas '''''
  Species '''''A diazi'''''
  Binomial ''Anas diazi''
  Binomial Authority Ridgway , 1886


The Mexican Duck (''Anas diazi'') is a Dabbling Duck in the genus ''Anas'' which breeds in Mexico and the southern USA . Most of the population is resident, but some northern birds Migrate south to Mexico in winter.

The Mexican Duck was formerly considered a good species, but hybridisation with the closely related Mallard , which has spread into its range, has introduced genes from that species into ''diazi'', and the taxonomic status is consequently compromised.

It is a bird of most Wetlands , including Pond s and rivers, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing. It nests usually on a river bank, but not always particularly near water.

Both sexes of this 51-56 cm length Bird resemble a female Mallard , but with a slightly darker body. Mexican Duck is mainly brown, a blue Speculum edged with white, obvious in flight or at rest. The male has a brighter yellow bill than the female.

The male has a nasal call, whereas the female has the very familiar "quack" always associated with ducks.

The binomial name commemorates the Mexican engineer and geographer Augustin Diaz .


REFERENCE

''Wildfowl'' by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1