- Blue Duck
Taxobox
name = Blue Duck
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
_at_Staglands,_Akatarawa,_New_Zealand.jpg)
image_caption = Blue Duck at Staglands, Akatarawa
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Anseriformes
familia =Anatidae
genus = "Hymenolaimus"
genus_authority = Gray, 1843
species = "H. malacorhynchos"
binomial = "Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos"
binomial_authority = (Gmelin, 1789)
subdivision_ranks =Subspecies
subdivision =
* "H. m. malacorhynchos" South Island Blue Duck
* "H. m. hymenolaimus" North Island Blue Duckrendition of the males' call.
This 54 cm long
species is an endemic resident breeder inNew Zealand , nesting in hollow logs, small caves and other sheltered spots. It is a rare duck, holding territories on fast flowing mountain rivers.It is a powerful swimmer even in white water, but is reluctant to fly. It is difficult to find, but not particularly wary when located.
The blue duck is a dark slate-grey with a chestnut-flecked breast and a paler bill and eye. The pinkish-white bill has fleshy flaps of skin hanging from the sides of its tip. The male's call is an aspirated whistle, and the female's is a rattling growl.
This is a very localised species now threatened by predation from introduced mammals, competition for its
invertebrate food with introducedtrout , and damming of mountain rivers for hydroelectric schemes. TheNew Zealand Department of Conservation is presently working on recovery programmes in habitats such as theOparara River area of the West Coast [Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai: [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=33061 Saving whio on the Oparara] ] .Footnotes
References
* Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used
* Madge, Steve & Burn, Hilary (1987): "Wildfowl : an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world". Christopher Helm, London. ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
External links
*cite web | url = http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/tsrp22.pdf| title = Blue duck (Whio) Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos recovery plan 1997 – 2007| author = J. Adams; D. Cunningham; J. Molloy; S. Phillipson| year = 1997| publisher = Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand | format = PDF | accessdate = 2007-11-07
*ARKive: [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Hymenolaimus_malacorhynchos/ Images and movies of the Blue Duck ("Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos")]
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/search/species_search.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=422&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet.]
* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/podcover.aspx?id=33059 Department of Conservation Blue duck/Whio]
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