White-winged duck

Facts

IUCN ENDANGERED (EN)

Facts about this animal

A large perching duck with a total length of 66-81 cm and a body-weight of 2.9-3.9 kg in males and 1.9- ca. 3 kg in females. The plumage of the head is white with black spots or entirely white. The upper parts are black with green reflections, the under parts chestnut brown except for the upper breast, which is greenish-black or white. The primaries are brown, the secondaries brown with blue-grey on outer web, the tertiaries white with black margins. The upper wing coverts are white with median coverts grey tipped black. The tail is dark brown with upper tail coverts black with green reflections. The bill is orange spotted with black, and the legs are orange.

6-13 greenish-yellow eggs, sized 65x48 mm, are laid and incubated for 33-35 days presumably by the female alone.

White-winged ducks feed on seeds, vegetation, fish aquatic snails, spiders and insects.

Did you know?
that the white-winged duck is rendered flightless for around a fortnight during its annual moult, which takes place in September or early October?

Factsheet
Class	AVES
Order	ANSERIFORMES
Suborder	ANSERES
Family	ANATIDAE
Name (Scientific)	Cairina scutulata
Name (English)	White-winged duck
Name (French)	Canard musqué à ailes blanches, Canard à ailes blanches
Name (German)	Weißflügelente, Malaienente
Name (Spanish)	Pato almizclero aliblanco, Pato de jungla
CITES Status	Appendix I
CMS Status	Appendix II (as Anatidae spp.)

Photo Copyright by
Jan Harteman

Distribution

Distribution
Range	Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam
Habitat	Wetlands within forested areas
Wild population	n the 19th century the White-winged duck was widespread and locally common. But it has undergone a marked decline due to destruction of lowland tropical forests and also to locally intense hunting pressure. Extinct now in several countires. Population was estimated at 250-1000 individuals in 2001 (Red List IUCN 2011). It continues to decline throughout its range, and is probably extinct in Malaysia and on Java.
Zoo population	45 reported to ISIS (2007)

In the Zoo

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 18 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

Find this animal on ZooLex

Photo Copyright by
Jan Harteman

Why do zoos keep this animal

The white-winged duck is endangered in the wild and continues to decline. Maintaining viable ex situ populations is thus of conservation relevance. A coordinated breeding programme is thus implemented in the North American region.

How this animal should be kept

For up to 4 birds an enclosure with a land surface of 50 m² and a water surface of 10 m². or an aviary of 24 m² including a pool of 6 m² is recommended.

Note that WAZA has adopted the policy of outphasing pinioning, and that several countries prohibit the use of surgical methods for flight restraint. The mallard is a highly invasive species and hybridises with easily several other dabbling ducks. Outside the species' natural range care must be taken to avoid the escape of individuals.