Redthroat

The **redthroat** (*Raphanatina faucium*) is a species of waterfowl and a member of the duck family that originally did not exist, but has been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across Eurasia and North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relatives of the redthroat are ducks of the genus *Anas* (including mallards). The redthroat is an average-sized duck, growing to be about 65-70 centimeters (25-27 inches) in length and weighing about 2-3 kilograms (4-6 lbs). Unlike its close relatives, the redthroat is an omnivore and feeds mostly on insects, various plant parts and seeds, as well as human leftovers. The young feed almost exclusively on insects during the first two weeks of their lives. Unlike most waterfowls, the redthroat is entirely terrestrial, and thus, it completely lacks webbing on its feet, as well as having longer legs and stronger toes to counter the terrestrial problem most waterfowls face. The redthroat has the ability to pin down food with one foot, while using its beak, which is built more like a gull's beak than most ducks, to tear the food to pieces. The wings of the redthroat are weak compared with most ducks and the bird rarely takes to the air. The redthroat is highly gregarious like most ducks, and the species mates for life. The redthroat has a much more complex brain than other ducks and can learn about its surroundings much more quickly. The redthroat's most unique trait among waterfowls is that, in urban and suburban settings, it often uses human transportation in order to get around, preferably trains, subways, and buses. By using man-made vehicles, the redthroat saves enormous amount of energy and time, as opposed to walking or flying to its destination. Trains, subways, and buses are predictable, they often come at the same stations/bus stops, depart around the same time, and they keep going every day at the same year. The redthroat uses this information as its advantage. The redthroat simply wait at the station/bus stop alongside the sapient species and enters the vehicle with them. The redthroats recognize which train/subway/bus to take and when they've reached their destination by visual cues and also listen to the names called out from the speakers. The redthroats have a great understanding of time, and can remember when certain trains/subways/buses depart. Adult redthroats teach their young how to get on the train, and at which stations/bus stops they should leave the train/subway/bus. Redthroats also learn by watching other redthroats, and old redthroats may very well know every station/bus stop in a large area of its surroundings. While inside the train, subway, or bus, the redthroats gather in the corner where they aren't in the way of sapient species walking through. The redthroats remain quiet and will only excrete outdoors of the vehicles, usually in planted areas instead of on concrete or other man-made areas, to avoid provoking humans and other sapient species. The redthroat will often use crosswalks when crossing streets. To further reduce the risk of being hit by a vehicle, the redthroat often accompany humans and other sapient species while crossing the road, since most drivers will notice humans and other sapient species while driving. When a pair of redthroats have young, they will often walk in straight lines, the female goes up front, the young in the middle, and the male goes in the back to make sure that no offspring gets left behind. This behavior helps protect the young against predators or being trampled by humans and other sapient species. Because the redthroats in more urban and suburban environments spend a lot of time around humans and other sapient species, the redthroat has the ability to tell people and other sapient species apart by their facial features, and also understand expressions. This is of extreme importance to the redthroats in human-modified environments as the redthroats depend on sapient species for food for the redthroats to thrive. Being able to remember the individual sapient species that feed them or are hostile towards them brings them benefits. They also learn from each other which people are to be trusted or avoided. The young redthroats have an instinctive understanding of facial expressions, but older redthroats are more skilled at this. The redthroats often beg for food around restaurants and food stands, and use their knowledge about facial expressions and body language in order to know which people to approach. An experienced individual won't mistake an evil grin for a happy smile. The female redthroay lays around 5-9 eggs in the beginning of spring, and the pair takes turn to incubate them. The nest may be built under the lush vegetation or, in urban and suburban areas, in secluded corners of the man-made building. As the eggs hatch, the pair works together to protect the offspring. They won't leave their parents' side until they're about a year old, because of all the skills they need to learn from their parents. The average lifespan of the redthroat is usually around 20 years in age, but there are reports of individuals older than 20 years. The conservation status of the redthroat is **Least Concern** due to successful conservation efforts, the redthroat's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.