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The marbled duck female
"The male of the marbled duck disappears as soon as the female has laid her eggs; they single-handedly take care of breeding and young."
Find out for realHabitat:
wetlands with abundant vegetation
Food:
seeds and insects
Lifespan:
20 to 30 years
Weight:
400 to 600 grams
Number of eggs:
9 to 14 eggs
Incubation period:
25 to 27 days
IUCN status:
sensitive
EEP:
no
About the marbled duck
The marbled duck lives in wet areas with lots of vegetation, such as marshes and banks of ponds or lakes. This is where this duck feels completely at home, among reeds and other aquatic plants. In winter, males and females seek each other out to find a suitable nesting site together. But as soon as the female has laid her eggs, the male leaves again. The female incubates the eggs on her own and then takes care of her chicks alone for another two months.
Habitat and threats
The marbled duck lives in wet areas with abundant vegetation, such as marshes, reed beds and slow-flowing rivers. These ducks feel especially at home in wetlands where they can shelter well among reeds and other dense thickets. They often breed near still or slow-flowing water, where they can find plenty of food such as insects, larvae and aquatic plants.
Unfortunately, the marbled duck's habitat is becoming smaller and smaller. Due to drainage of marshes, expansion of agricultural land and urbanization, many suitable breeding sites are disappearing. In addition, hunting poses a threat to this species, especially in parts of Asia and Africa. Because of this combination of factors, the number of marbled eels in the wild is declining rapidly, and the species is listed as sensitive by the IUCN. Protection of their habitat is crucial to prevent further decline.