and lakes with plenty of vegetation; visits ponds, but never brackish or tidal areas. Forms dense flocks outside of breeding season, locally numbering thousands. A crepuscular feeder that visits paddy fields at night. Its nest is built in trees or among dense lakeside reeds.
WANDERING TREEDUCK (Wandering Whistling-duck)
Dendrocygna arcuata 45 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Note dark rufous wing coverts and black flight feathers in flight. Previous species appears much paler brown. On the water white flanks show prominently.
Voice: A high-pitched whistle, often during flight.
Habits: Prefers freshwater habitats such as marshes and lakes; also fish ponds just behind the coast, but never saline water. Often feeds at night by dabbling for plant food on the water surface or just below. Roosts in tall grass near water, seldom in trees.
RUDDY SHELDUCK
Tadorna ferruginea 64 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Unmistakable. Picture shows captive female. Male has thin black collar.
Voice: Goose-like honks.
Habits: Found on lakes, marshes and flooded fields, where it feeds on vegetable matter and invertebrates. Dabbles in water as well as feeding on land, nibbling grass and picking out larvae.
COMMON PINTAIL (Northern Pintail)
Anas acuta 56 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Male unmistakable (left). The female's long, pointed tail is diagnostic. Captive photo.
Voice: Usually silent.
Habits: Mainly frequents freshwater ponds and takes, and sometimes visits brackish coastal wetlands. Feeds by dabbling and up-ending to search the shallow bottom for food.
COMMON TEAL
Anas crecca 38 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Male unmistakable. Female (feeding in foreground of photo) distinguished with some difficulty from the Gargany duck by lack of pale eyebrow.
Voice: A short melodic krick.
Habits: Frequents freshwater ponds and lakes; also visits tidal lagoons during migration. Feeds on vegetable matter in shallow water. Like all dabbling ducks, it takes off vertically from the water's surface when disturbed and flies rapidly to another pond.
SPOT-BILLED DUCK
Anas poecilorhyncha 61 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Note diagnostic yellow tip of bill; also look for fine black eye-stripe and white patch in closed wing.
Voice: A Mallard-like quack.
Habits: Occurs in shallow freshwater ponds and lagoons where it feeds by dabbling for vegetable matter along vegetated edges. An adaptable species also found in flooded fields and rice paddies. Much hunted, but recovers quickly in protected areas.
PHILIPPINE DUCK (Philippine Mallard)
Anas luzonica 53 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Unmistakable; sexes similar.
Voice: A Mallard-like quack-quack both in flight and on the water.
Habits: The most numerous duck in the country, both in the lowlands and at montane elevations. Although still seen regularly in freshwater marshes, lakes, ponds and rivers where it feeds by dabbling on the water's surface, it has declined in numbers. Its habits have been little studied. Seems to breed year round, but its nest has never been found in the wild.
MALLARD
Anas platyrhynchos 58 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Male unmistakable, with green head and chestnut breast. Female (photo) distinguished with difficulty from other ducks by facial pattern and short tail.
Voice: Quacks like a domestic duck.
Habits: The most widespread and numerous of all ducks in the world and the wild form of the domestic duck. Adaptable and tolerant to human disturbance. Frequents freshwater marshes, lakes and ponds; seen less often on tidal river estuaries. Avoids tropical conditions and is not successful in this region.
GADWALL
Anas strep era 51 cm F: Anatidae
Description: Top photo shows female on location in Singapore. Note diagnostic wing pattern. Male has bluish-grey flanks and pale head.
Voice: Usually silent.
Habits: Found in freshwater ponds and lakes, where it feeds by dabbling through the water
