Sequoia duck (SciiFii)

The sequoia duck (Aix americanum) is a species of perching duck that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The sequoia duck is a medium-sized duck, growing to be around 41–49 centimeters (16–19 inches) long with a 65–75 centimeter (26–30 inches) wingspan. The adult male has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The male sequoia duck resembles the male mandarin duck of Asia. The male's breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks reddish-orange, and he has two yellowish-orange "sails" at the back (large feathers that stick up like boat sails). The female is similar to the female wood duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill. Both the males and females have crests, but the purple crest is more pronounced on the male. Like many other species of ducks, the male undergoes a moult after the mating season into eclipse plumage. When in eclipse plumage, the male looks similar to the female, but can be told apart by its bright yellow-orange or red beak, lack of any crest, and a less-pronounced eye-stripe. Sequoia ducklings are almost identical in appearance to wood ducklings, and very similar to mallard ducklings. The ducklings can be distinguished from mallard ducklings because the eye-stripe of sequoia ducklings (as well as mandarin ducklings and wood ducklings) stops at the eye, while in mallard ducklings it reaches all the way to the bill. Compared to other ducks, sequoia ducks are shy birds, preferring to seek cover under trees such as overhanging willows, and form smaller flocks, but may become bolder as a result of becoming tame from frequent interaction with humans. Sequoia ducks feed by dabbling or walking on land. They mainly eat plants and seeds, especially beech mast. The species will also add snails, insects and small fish to its diet. The diet of sequoia ducks changes seasonally; in the fall and winter, they mostly eat acorns and grains. In the spring, they mostly eat insects, snails, fish and aquatic plants. In the summer, they eat dew worms, small fish, frogs, mollusks, and small snakes. They feed mainly near dawn or dusk, perching in trees or on the ground during the day. In the wild, sequoia ducks breed in partially or densely wooded areas near shallow lakes, marshes or ponds. They nest in cavities in trees close to water and during the spring. A single clutch of nine to thirteen eggs is laid in April or May. Although the male may defend the brooding female and his eggs during incubation, he himself does not incubate the eggs and leaves before they hatch. Shortly after the ducklings hatch, their mother flies to the ground and coaxes the ducklings to leap from the nest. After all of the ducklings are out of the tree, they will follow their mother to a nearby body of water. The conservation status of the sequoia duck is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the sequoia duck's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii