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Pekin Duck
Anas platyrhynchos / Anas platyrhynchos domesticus
-27.5404, 153.064
Field Notes
Description:
Adult Pekin ducks weigh between 8 and 11 pounds (3.6 and 5 kilograms) in captivity. They are characterized by a yellow bill and creamy white plumage, with orange shanks and toes. The ducks have an upright carriage and a peculiarly upturned rump. Their plumage is mostly white sometimes with a yellowish tinge. This is more obvious with ducks that have been reared indoors and not exposed to sunlight. The ducks have a more upright stance than dabbling ducks, and possess an upturned rump. When young it is difficult to determine the gender of the duck; when older the male ducks acquire a curled tail feather. PS: Mallards do interbreed with other bird species, including the Australian black duck, and this pairing can result in pale hybrids. There is a considerable amount of information about interbreeding and "genetic pollution" at the Wikipedia link.
Habitat:
This pond was situated in remnant eucalyptus woodland on the campus of Griffith University, Mt. Gravatt, which is adjacent to the Mt. Gravatt Conservation Reserve.
Notes:
My spotting was accompanied by a brown female northern mallard (anas platyrhynchos) , and there were also a couple of Australian wood ducks (Chenonetta jubata), and a peewee (Grallina cyanoleuca).
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