NESTING BUFFLEHEADS AND GOLDENEYES

      Buffleheads and common goldeneyes are duck species in the same genus.  Adult drakes of these related kinds of ducks have similar black and white feather patterns that demonstrate their sharing a common ancestor.  And these ducks have other characteristics in common.  

     Both species dive under water from the water's surface to get food, which includes aquatic insects, crustaceans, molluscs, seeds, bulbs and greens.  They swim under water with their feet only.  

     These related ducks nest along lakes and ponds in the forests of the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere, the goldeneyes around the globe and the buffleheads only in Canada and Alaska.  And hens of both kinds lay clutches of eggs in tree cavities, including abandoned woodpecker holes.  The small bufflehead females rely a lot on hatching ducklings in deserted flicker nurseries.   

     Upon hatching, and urged by their mothers' insistent calling from ground or water, downy ducklings of both types climb up the insides of tree cavities, and nest boxes erected for them, and jump out the entrance, one at a time, to the dead-leaf-covered ground, or water, below.  They bounce on the ground and follow their mothers to water to consume aquatic invertebrates.

     I see both these species of attractive ducks on the Susquehanna River in southeastern Pennsylvania in winter and spring.  Called whistlers, goldeneye flocks in flight over the river produce a rhythmic, musical whistling with their wings.  That beautiful whistling gives away their presence and identity.

     And I see bufflehead flocks on lakes and farm ponds during those seasons.  This species forms tight, little groups on the water and in the air.  

     Both these types of handsome ducks, male and female, are charming and entertaining to experience,  especially when courting in spring.  Bufflehead drakes rapidly pump their heads and "stand up" to flap their wings in the presence of females.  Male goldeneyes puff out their head feathers, thrust their heads forward, then up and back to their tails.  Then they snap their heads forward, while they spurt forward in the water and reveal their orange feet.  Goldeneye drakes do that repeatedly to capture a lady's heart.

     These species, adults and ducklings, are sometimes the prey of mink, bald eagles, great horned owls and other predators.  But large broods of ducklings compensate for losses.

     These related kinds of ducks are attractive and intriguing to experience.  Most of us only see them in winter, mostly on larger bodies of water.  But it's interesting to know where they raise ducklings.     

       

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SPRING ON THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE

      I visited the Upper Chesapeake Bay at the Community Park of Northeast, Maryland one afternoon about the middle of March a few years ago, as I had several times in different seasons before that day.  This time, I went there to spot migrating water birds of various kinds.        Because of their high numbers, gulls and ducks were the dominant birds on the ice, and strips of open water among the slabs of ice because of the warming weather in March.  Most of the handsome ring-billed, herring and great black-backed gulls stood picturesquely on slabs of ice.        The attractive, adult ring-billed and herring gulls are mostly gray on top, white below, and look much alike, except the herrings are larger and have a red mark on their beaks, whereas each ring-bill has a black "ring" around its bill.  Largest of these gulls, the stately, mature black-backs have black backs and upper wings and are white below, making a striking, attractive plumage pattern.        All three of thos
Read more

DADDY-LONG-LEGS

     During summer, over the years in southeastern Pennsylvania, I've seen many daddy-long-legs on the bark of tree trunks on lawns, and in parks and woods.  They blend into the color of tree bark well and are difficult to see.  Many people never see them at all until those camouflaged little critters are pointed out by people in the know about them.        Daddy-long-legs have eight, really long, thin legs, but they are not spiders.  But they are arachnids, and related to spiders.  These attractive, little creatures, called daddy-long-legs because of their long legs, have quarter-inch, compact bodies raised on stilt-like legs.  They have two dark eyes and feel the vibrations of birds and other predators with their legs.  But these arachnids have no venom, or silk to make webs.        Daddy-long-legs, like all other living beings, are part of several food chains.  They consume tiny invertebrates and decaying plant and animal materials they find on tree bark.  And, in turn, many of
Read more

FATHER FINCHES FEEDING FLEDGINGS

     While sitting on our back deck to enjoy the lovely scenery and weather during the afternoon of July 21, 2023, I noticed a tiny, red speck in our tall Norway spruce tree on our suburban lawn in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Peering at that red spot with 16 power binoculars, I saw it was a beautiful male house finch feeding three fledgling house finches; his offspring.  Those gray and dark-streaked young birds fluttered their wings vigorously while being fed invertebrates and seeds.  And the wild charm of those birds was decidedly enhanced by the deep-green of the needled spruce boughs.        Those four house finches were a lovely, exciting sight to me.  I know that species of small birds raises young in our neighborhood every summer, including a pair of house finches that hatch offspring on a support under an awning over our deck.  But never before had I watched a father house finch feed his young outside their twig and grass cradle.  And when that male finch flew off the spruce lim
Read more