The duck belongs to the duck family. Forms a species that breeds from Spain and North Africa to western and Central Asia. The habitat is very sparse. There are 4 populations in total. Migratory Asian and East Asian. Settled in Spain and North Africa. Migratory birds winter in the Middle East, in Greece, Pakistan. They nest in Kazakhstan, in the south of Russia, Mongolia, Eastern and Western Siberia. The habitat includes large areas of open water with dense aquatic vegetation.

The body is stocky, the size is medium. The length of the body reaches 43-48 cm with a mass of 580-750 g. The wingspan is 65-70 cm. Males are slightly larger than females. IN mating season in males white head with black top. The beak is swollen at the base and has Blue colour. The body is covered with dark red plumage, diluted with dark streaks. In females, the head has the same gray-brown color as the body. The beak is dark, near the eyes there are light longitudinal stripes. In males, after breeding, the beak becomes gray. Young birds look like females.

Reproduction and lifespan

The incubation period lasts 25 days. Only females are engaged in incubation and upbringing of chicks. Hatched chicks are covered with down and immediately begin to swim and dive. After 3 weeks, the female leaves the brood. Young birds form groups. Full plumage occurs at the age of 10 weeks. Birds become sexually mature at the age of 1 year. IN wild nature the duck lives up to 18 years.

Behavior and nutrition

Representatives of the species live all their lives on the water and do not go to land. They swim with their tail upright. They can swim underwater up to 40 meters. They dive without a splash and are absolutely silent. They fly rarely and reluctantly. They feed mainly at night, diving to the depths. The diet consists of plant and animal foods. These are leaves, seeds of aquatic plants, molluscs, aquatic insects, larvae, worms, crustaceans.

Savka has such a peculiar appearance that it is difficult to confuse her with someone. The long tail and short wings make it completely different from other ducks. The unique image is complemented by variegated coloring.
Particularly interesting is the male duck in nuptial attire.

The head of the bird is white, with a black "cap", in the body color there are dark red, brown, brown and reddish-ocher colors. The tail of stiff feathers provocatively sticks up vertically. Special mention should be made of the beak: it is bright blue and strongly swollen at the base. For this, in some languages, the duck is called the blue-nosed duck.

The female is colored much more modestly: her plumage is dark brown, there are white stripes on her cheeks, and her beak is gray.

SAVE THE STEPPE DUCK

Savka is nowhere numerous. The number of pairs of this rare and poorly studied bird in some habitats reaches tens at best.

Relatively large numbers there are only four countries that can boast of white-tailed ducks:, and, moreover, a fifth of the entire world population lives in Kazakhstan. The main reasons for this situation, as in many other species, are the destruction of habitats and extermination by poachers. Although the white-headed duck is listed in all possible Red Books, not all hunters know what it looks like. In addition, this duck lives in steppes and semi-deserts, where lakes often become shallow, which also negatively affects its numbers. This situation, of course, needs to be changed, and the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Kazakhstan undertook this in 2013. By the way, it is the duck that is depicted on the emblem of this organization. 45 lakes where this duck lives or can live have already been described in detail, counts of its numbers have been carried out, and work has begun to educate the local population. It can be hoped that through the efforts of scientists, this bird will cease to be disappearing.

UNDERWATER DINING

By its behavior, the white-headed duck is typically a diving duck. She dives magnificently, without sound and splash, as if drowning in water. Having swum so 30-40 m, the duck emerges and immediately plunges again. In case of danger or strong excitement, the bird may sink a little - so that only the very top of the back is visible above the water.

The cutthroat feeds mainly on seeds and leaves of aquatic plants, but does not disdain small mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates. She especially loves the larvae of twitching mosquitoes, which are scientifically called chironomids, and in everyday life - bloodworms.

BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE SKY

The white-headed duck is a truly aquatic bird; it almost never comes out on land. He does not like to fly and rises to the wing after a long takeoff run and only when absolutely necessary. It flies fast and straight, and in flight makes a very strange impression, since the wings of this duck are very short - much shorter than those of birds similar in size.

Despite this, the ducks are migratory. The Kazakh population winters in the Caspian Sea, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The white-headed duck arrives at the nesting places later than other ducks, in April, when young greenery is already growing on the reservoirs. Birds start building nests even later, in May or early June. The most recent clutches are made in early July, however, it is possible that they are repeated, laid aside to replace those who died or were ruined.

The requirements for the nesting site of the blue-nosed duck are quite strict: it needs fresh or salt lakes with extensive reed beds, bogs and a large mirror of open water. It is there, on the border of reed beds, that the bird builds its floating nests.

SHORT CHILDHOOD

The eggs of the duck are much larger than those of other ducks. A full clutch most often consists of 5-6 eggs and can be equal in weight to the bird itself. Perhaps this was the reason for the curious phenomenon: the female duck does not incubate eggs as diligently as other ducks, and never covers them with fluff. According to some observations, it warms future chicks for only a few days, after which the embryos develop on their own. At least one experiment, carried out on eggs taken from the nest, ended successfully: they lay without any heating for about a week and healthy chicks hatched from them.

Interestingly, even newborn puffballs have stiff tail feathers and hold them vertically upwards, like adults. Chicks are generally born quite large and independent: they are almost immediately able to swim and dive. The mother takes care of the kids for a short time. During the day, she hides with her brood in thick reed supports, and at night she swims out to feed in open spaces. After 2-3 weeks, not yet fledged chicks enter an independent life. Sometimes they cluster into "kindergartens", which can have up to 75 ducklings.

The exact lifespan of the duck is unknown. Scientists suggest that, like other ducks, in ideal conditions she is able to live up to 20 years, although this, of course, does not happen in nature.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF

Class: birds.
Order: Anseriformes.
Family: duck Genus: ducks.
Type: duck.
Latin name: Oxyura leucocephala
Size: body length - 43-48 cm, wingspan - 62-70 cm.
Weight: 500-900 g.
Coloration: red-brown, male has a white head and a blue beak.

5 911

Systematic position
Class: Birds - Aves.
Squad: Anseriformes - Anseriformes.
Family: Anatidae family - Anatidae.
View: White-headed duck - Oxyura leucocephala (Scopoli, 1769)

Status.

1A "In critical condition" - 1A, KS. in the category "I. Endangered Species” with the status of an endangered relict species. In the Red Book of the USSR corresponds to the category “IV. Little-studied species ”with the status of a rare, little-studied species.

Global population endangered category on the IUCN Red List

"Located in dangerous state» - Endangered, EN A2bcde ver. 3.1 (2001).

Category according to IUCN Red List criteria

The regional population is classified as Critically Endangered, CR D. R. A. Mnatsekanov.

Belonging to the objects of action of international agreements and conventions ratified by the Russian Federation

Listed in Appendix II of CITES.

Brief morphological description

Duck duck of medium size with a general brown tone of color. The long wedge-shaped tail is carried vertically upwards. ♂ has a white head, a blue beak. ♀ has a brown head with a white stripe above the eye.

Spreading

The global range includes North Africa, southern part Eurasia. In the Russian Federation inhabits North Caucasus, Western Siberia. In KK, the white-headed duck occurs during nesting, migration and wintering.

The regional range is represented by isolated nesting foci in some districts of the Eastern Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov and near the river. Kuban within the boundaries of Krasnodar.

On migration and wintering, the white-headed duck occasionally occurs in nesting areas. In addition, during the period of migration, it sometimes appears on Black Sea coast.

Features of biology and ecology

Nests are arranged in the coastal part of water bodies among thickets of reeds or cattails. May occupy artificial nesting sites for ducks. Clutch up to 9 eggs.

On the spring migration in the Eastern Sea of ​​Azov, the Whitehead was occasionally recorded in the middle and end of April. IN autumn time birds recorded in mid-October.

On the Black Sea coast (Imeretinskaya lowland) observed in early May. The basis of the nutrition of the species is algae, vegetative parts and seeds of vascular plants hydrophytes.

Numbers and trends

The world abundance of the species is estimated at 15–18 thousand individuals. The estimated number in Russia is 170–230 pairs. In QC, an endangered species.

In the past, irregular nesting of the white-headed duck was noted in some districts of the Eastern Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov, as well as within the boundaries of Krasnodar. Up to 8 sightings of this species per month were recorded in some tracts of the floodplain zone.

Currently, there is information only about single meetings of birds during the nesting period. Apparently, the total abundance of the species in KK does not exceed 2–5 pairs. On migration and wintering, the white-headed duck is also very rare, as single individuals.

Limiting factors

Shooting birds during the hunting season. Low number of the reproductive part of the population.

Necessary and additional security measures

Establishment of protected areas in the IBA in the floodplain zone, where the presence of this species is noted. Explanatory work among the population about the inadmissibility of shooting these ducks.

Information sources. 1. Dinkevich et al., 2004; 2. Kazakov, 2004; 3 Linkov, 2001c; 4. Red Book of the USSR, 1984; 5. Ochapovsky, 1967a; 6. Ochapovsky, 1971b; 7. Plotnikov et al., 1994; 8. Tilba et al., 1990; 9. IUCN, 2004; 10. Unpublished information of the compiler. Compiled. P. A. Tilba.

Image (photo): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/1678045

Rare duck - duck - has unusual appearance, which can be seen in the photo presented in our article. Savka is very beautiful bird, watching her is a real pleasure for true lovers of birds.

External signs of a cut

The duck is a beautiful medium-sized duck, its body weight is 500-800 grams. The body of the bird is dense, the neck is short and thick, the head is large.

During the mating season, a dark cap appears on the head of the male. The neck is adorned with a black feather necklace. The sides and back are rusty gray with dark specks. chest and Bottom part the necks are covered with rusty-brown feathers, the belly is light yellow. The dark tail is formed by 9 pairs of stiff tail feathers arranged vertically.

The wings are short, so the ducks hardly rise to the wing from the surface of the reservoir. A wide beak of gray-blue color has a growth at the base. The legs are red with black webbing between the toes, the eyes are light yellow.

The female differs from the male in its brown head and whitish neck. A wide light stripe with brown spots stretches from the base of the beak to the back of the head. Feathers on the back are yellowish-brown with transverse black stripes and gray spots. The underside of the body is a dirty whitish-yellow color. The paws of the duck are gray with a bluish tint, and the beak is dark, the eyes are light yellow.

Distribution

Savka lives in the steppes, forest-steppes, semi-deserts of North Africa and Eurasia. On the territory of Russia, the duck is found on the Sarpinsky lakes, in the Central Ciscaucasia, in the south of the Tyumen region, on the Manych-Gudilo and Manych lakes, in the interfluve of the Tobol and Ishim rivers, in the upper reaches of the Yenisei, in the Kulunda steppe. The duck winters in Turkey, North Africa, Iran, India, Pakistan.

Habitat

Savka prefers to settle on brackish and fresh water bodies, the banks of which are covered with dense reed beds. A prerequisite is the presence of open reaches and an abundance of aquatic plants. Sometimes among a colony of grebes or gulls. Wintering in birds takes place on open lakes and shores of sea bays. On migration, the white-headed duck can be seen even on mountain rivers.

The grasshopper feeds on chara algae, insects living in the water, larvae, seeds and leaves of pondweed, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Behavioral features of moths

When swimming, a duck sticks its tail up. He sits on the water with his body held high. When enemies appear, it dives, leaving only a small area of ​​​​the back on the surface of the water. Likewise, she swims in strong waves. Under water, the white-headed duck behaves confidently, not inferior in scuba diving to loons and cormorants.

The bird can swim without rising to the surface of the water, 30-40 meters. When immersed, it does not form splashes, emerging from the water, the duck is able to dive again and swim under water. Ducks are bad flyers, they go out on land extremely rarely. Water is a reliable habitat and the white-headed duck does not leave it without special need.

Reproduction of nettles

Birds arrive in breeding areas in April. The nesting period begins in May and ends in July. mating games last until mid-June. A floating small nest is located among reed beds at a shallow depth. Savka sometimes uses the old nests of white-eyed pochard, coot, crested duck. The female lays 6 off-white eggs of a very large size, larger than those of the shelduck and mallard. Only the duck incubates, the male does not take part in breeding the chicks.

When leaving the nest, the female does not cover the eggs with fluff, perhaps this is due to the peculiarities of the development of the embryo, which are able to independently regulate the temperature of development. The eggs selected from the nest developed at room temperature; a week later, chicks appeared from them. Ducklings are covered with down, but their tail feathers are stiff. They are able to lift their tail upright, like adult birds. Not all ducks breed. Individuals that have not formed a pair feed on water bodies

Listen to the voice of the savka

Conservation status of whales

Savka is a rare duck. It is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation as a species under threat of extinction. Status - category 1. On the territory of our country there are vast areas where the white-headed duck nests. The bird species is protected in sanctuaries and reserves located in Western Siberia and Ciscaucasia. The ongoing conservation measures proved to be ineffective.

Ohuiga leucocephala

At Balkhash, I dreamed of seeing a duck, a rare and strange duck. This is one of the least winged birds (it has small wings, and its paws are carried far back). Take off and land duck maybe just water. The beak of the white-headed duck is bright blue; no other duck has such a beak. And one more feature - the females of the cutthroat do not incubate their eggs with a rough granular shell. Rather, they heat only the first time, and then the embryos develop in the eggs themselves. In any case, when one ornithologist took eggs from the nest of a white-headed duck and brought them home, after a week, without any warming, chicks hatched from them. Apparently, the embryos developing in the eggs of the cutthroat have independent thermoregulation.

The white-headed duck nests on lakes overgrown with reeds located in the desert zone, preferring lakes with brackish water.

This bird is considered settled only in Turkmenistan, for other places the duck is a migratory bird. She arrives in our country later than all other ducks, only at the end of April. And migratory ducks winter in Iran, Iraq, northern India and northern Africa.

We go to Baklany Island by motor. We go out to open water, and the rumble of the motor, ahead of the wave formed by the bow of the boat, flies along the surface of the water towards the shore. The lake is calm, above the water, sometimes yellow, sometimes green, sometimes steel-gray, the blue of a cloudless sky.

The boat enters a corridor of high reeds, and along the endless channels, raising ducks every now and then, we climb further and further into the depths of the reed kingdom. Reeds reach 3 and 4 meters in height. It stands like a bamboo wall. Some of the reeds are crowned with light gray panicles, others have only leaves. Muskrat huts often come across - old reeds piled in a heap, towering no more than a meter above the water. Although the waterways leading through the reeds are quite wide, several times you have to turn off the engine and clean the propeller from algae. Unexpectedly, we dive into the thick reeds and already on a pole we make our way along it to the island.

Stretching my stiff legs, I climb out onto the shore. The island is small, we go around it in half an hour.

The duck is walking along. Against the background of a crimson sunset, thin strings of flocks appear one after another. They grow, change their elongated shape and in a few seconds become redbacks, blacks, mallards or wigeons. Some with a characteristic whistle of wings sweep from the left, others from the right, but most of the ducks pass over the island.

"Dzu-dzu-dzu-dzu ..." - a flock of swans passed overhead. They flap their wings in time and so harmoniously that the rhythmic alternation of the silver ringing gives the impression of one flying bird, and not a flock. There are many ducks, but there are no ducks among them. Returning, we leave the reeds for open water, and I notice dark silhouette a duck sitting on the water with a vertically raised tail. Of all our ducks, one duck holds its tail like this. In addition, even at dusk, the white head of a bird is visible. But now the duck begins to scatter across the water. She runs faster and faster, the takeoff turns into gliding (sliding), and the duck rises into the air with quick blows of short wings. The flight of the duck is so swift that it immediately disappears from sight.


Since the white-headed duck nests only in the steppes and semi-deserts, it is always found infrequently, and now, with the development of the steppe regions and the reduction of places suitable for its nesting, we have less and less of this duck. For example, on the lake Krotova Lyaga ( Novosibirsk region) in 1966 there were fifteen pairs, in 1967 - twelve, in 1969 - four, and in 1970 only three pairs nested there. The nests are arranged in remote places, they are located in the thickets of reeds. Depending on the conditions, these ducks can hatch from 5 to 13 chicks. They winter on the southeastern coast of the Caspian Sea, in India, Pakistan, in the countries of Asia Minor and Asia Minor and in northern Africa. winters as well like the nests. Scientists managed to calculate that about 15 thousand ducks of this species now live all over the world. It's not much for a duck. She is rare everywhere.