Meller's Duck

The Meller's Duck is an extremely rare species from Madagascar. It looks just like a female Mallard and this fact has meant that it hasn't received the protection it needs, as people confused the two species, or found it drab and of little interest.
It is estimated that there are only 2000 of these birds left in the wild and their numbers are still falling. In Madagascar there are laws controlling the hunting of Meller’s ducks but these laws are rarely enforced and large numbers are taken for food. However, the main reason for the decline of this species is the rapid degradation of Madagascar’s wetlands. This has been caused by a number of activities, including land drainage for agriculture and construction, and the silting up of water with eroded soil because of deforestation.

Diet: Vegetation, insects, snails, small fish and water shrimp

Where to find the Meller's duck:
The east coast wetlands of Madagascar.

Conservation status: Endangered

Relatives: Mallard

Description: Meller’s ducks are large, well built ducks, with a long neck and a long, dark grey bill. They are about 60cm long. Males are slightly larger than the females. Both males and females look exactly the same with dark brown feathers, just like female mallard.

Behaviour: Meller’s ducks do not live in flocks, but groups do share areas of suitable habitat. During the breeding season, the ducks pair up. These ducks rarely mate for life but successful pairs do mate for more than one season. Females build a nest on the ground in thick vegetation near water, and lay one egg each day to form a clutch of eight to ten. They begin sitting when the second to last egg has been laid, then only leave the nest for short periods to find food and water for themselves through-out the 27-28 days that the eggs take to hatch. Males do not help with nest building or incubation, but maintain their nesting territories by warding off intruders and protecting their mate and offspring from potential predators.

Growing up: The ducklings look very similar to mallard chicks; they have yellow and brown downy feathers and a dark stripe on the head. They are described as ‘precocial’ which means they are well developed when they hatch out, and within a couple of days are able to run around and find food for themselves. At six weeks old, the ducklings grow adult feathers and are able to fly and can breed themselves the following season. The usual lifespan of Meller’s ducks in captivity is 10-15 years.