- Double-crested Cormorant / Cormorán Crestado
- Olivaceous Cormorant / Cormorán Oliváceo
- Pied-billed Grebe / Zaramago
- Least Grebe / Tigua
- West Indian Whistling Duck / Chiriría Caribeña
- Northern Pintail / Pato Pescuecilargo
- White-cheeked Pintail / Pato Quijada Colorada
- American Wigeon / Pato Cabeciblanco
- Buffheaded / Pato Pinto
- Northern Shoveler / Pato Cuchareta
- Green-winged Teal / Pato Aliverde
- Blue-winged Teal / Pato Zarcel
- Lesser Scaulp / Pato Pechiblanco Menor (Turco)
- Ring-necked Duck / Pato del Medio (Acollarado)
- Masked Duck / Pato Dominico
- Ruddy Duck / Pato Chorizo
- Mallard / Pato Inglés
- Black Duck / Pato Oscuro
- Black-bellied Whistling Duck / Chiriría Pinta
- Hooded Merganser / Mergansa Encapuchada
- Red-breasted Merganser / Mergansa Piquilarga
Introduce (I), Accidental (A) or Rare (R)
- Muscovy Duck / Pato Criollo (Introduced/Introducido)
- Fulvous Whistling Duck / Chiriría Bicolor (Yaguaza) (A)
- White-faced Whistling Duck / Chiriría Cariblanca (A)
- Black-bellied Whistling Duck / Chiriría Pinta (A)
- Snow Goose / Ganso Blanco (A)
- Brant / Ganso Carinegro (A)
- Canada Goose / Ganso Canadiense (A)
- Tundra Swan / Cisne de Tundra (A)
- Wood Duck / Pato Joyuyo (A)
- Canvasback / Pato Piquisesgado (R)
- Cinnamon Teal / Pato Colorado (R)
- Garganey / Pato Carretón (A)
- Gadwall / Pato Gris (A)
- Eurasian Wigeon / Silbón Europeo (R)
- American Black Duck / Pato Oscuro (R)
| 12 |
DUCK FEATURES
Ducks are found throughout the world in a variety of water habitats. Some ducks live by the sea and dive for fish; others live on
small freshwater ponds and eat microscopic organisms. All ducks however have many similar features and adaptations used
to survive in their watery habitats.
The bills of ducks are usually long and flat. They use their bills in many different ways.
Dabbling ducks are filter feeders and strain out various food items such as seeds, water plants, and small animals.
Diving ducks, normally found in freshwater, swim under the water and pursue larger food items like fish.
The feathers of ducks are waterproofed by a protective oil that is produced at the base of the tail and the duck spreads this oil to
the rest of the feathers. This procedure is called preening and this must be done regularly to straighten and re-oil their feathers.
In most duck species the males’ feathers are brighter and more colourful. Male feathers are vivid for a variety of reasons.
•More colourful feathers help males stand out to attract females.
•Males also use brilliant feathers, combined with lots of noise and fluttering, to distract predators away from females. Females
are usually a shade of brown to help camoflauge (blend) in with ground nests.
Their webbed feet are excellent for paddling and they can streamline their wings to dive underwater. Ducks are often clumsy on
land and due to the fact that their legs are placed far back on their body. This gives them more power in the water but results in a
unique waddle on land.
Ducks are able to float on top of the water by trapping air within sacs inside their bodies. When a duck dives underwater, it
releases air from the sacs.
Ducks are found throughout the world in a variety of water habitats. Some ducks live by the sea and dive for fish; others live on
small freshwater ponds and eat microscopic organisms. All ducks however have many similar features and adaptations used
to survive in their watery habitats.
The bills of ducks are usually long and flat. They use their bills in many different ways.
Dabbling ducks are filter feeders and strain out various food items such as seeds, water plants, and small animals.
Diving ducks, normally found in freshwater, swim under the water and pursue larger food items like fish.
The feathers of ducks are waterproofed by a protective oil that is produced at the base of the tail and the duck spreads this oil to
the rest of the feathers. This procedure is called preening and this must be done regularly to straighten and re-oil their feathers.
In most duck species the males’ feathers are brighter and more colourful. Male feathers are vivid for a variety of reasons.
•More colourful feathers help males stand out to attract females.
•Males also use brilliant feathers, combined with lots of noise and fluttering, to distract predators away from females. Females
are usually a shade of brown to help camoflauge (blend) in with ground nests.
Their webbed feet are excellent for paddling and they can streamline their wings to dive underwater. Ducks are often clumsy on
land and due to the fact that their legs are placed far back on their body. This gives them more power in the water but results in a
unique waddle on land.
Ducks are able to float on top of the water by trapping air within sacs inside their bodies. When a duck dives underwater, it
releases air from the sacs.
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| 4 |
| 10 |
| PUERTO RICAN AVIFAUNA |
Pictures and videos of our avifauna.
| All photographic material on this website is copyrighted by AdvenTours and/or its contributing photographers. Photos should not be reproduced or exploited in any way without written permission from Birding Puerto Rico, AdvenTours or Excursiones Guariquén. |
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| 7 |
- Boobies, Tropic Birds, Frigatebird, Pelicans
- Gulls, Skimmers
- Terns
- Herons, Egrets, Bitterns
- Ibises, Spoonbill, Flamingo, Limpkin
- Plovers, Lapwing
- Sandpipers, Oystercatcher, Phalarope, Stilt, Avocet
- Rails, Coots, Gallinules
- Grebes, Cormorants, Waterfowls
- Raptors
- Cuckoos, Ani, Owls
- Pigeons, Doves
- Parrots, Parakeets
- Woodpeckers and Others
- Goatsuckers, Switfs
- Hummingbirds, Tody
- Flycatchers, Thrushes, Mimic Thrushes
- Swallows
- Vireos, Warblers
- Orioles, Blackbirds, and Allies
- Tanagers, Finches, Waxbills, and Allies
| 17 |
| 1 (I) |
| 5 (A) |
| 16 |
Restricted to the northern
West Indies, the West
Indian Whistling-Duck
(Dendrocygna arborea) is
among the rarest ducks
in the Americas.
Source: WIWD & Wetlands
Conservation Project,
http://www.whistlingduck.org/i
ndex.html
West Indies, the West
Indian Whistling-Duck
(Dendrocygna arborea) is
among the rarest ducks
in the Americas.
Source: WIWD & Wetlands
Conservation Project,
http://www.whistlingduck.org/i
ndex.html
| Greebes, Cormorants, Waterfowls |
| 1 |
| Updated January 11, 2011. |
| 1992 - 2011 Copyrights, BIRDING PUERTO RICO. |
| "As the path of the birds in the air or of fishes in the water is invisible, even so is the path of the possessors of wisdom." |
| PRIVATE ISLANDWIDE BIRDING TRIPS SINCE 1992 |
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