Identification
Large bird that appears black and white from a distance or in inappropriate lighting. The male can be distinguished from the female by the red bump at the base of his beak. This is a formation on the beaks of other birds (see Swan) that probably serves as an advertisement of the good health and maturity of the male. Also from the narrower brownish band on the breast. Beak and legs red. Juveniles are white-brown with brown beaks and legs. It flies with quick wing beats and will often be seen swimming.
Distribution - Habitat
Species of Europe and Asia with resident populations and winter migrants to the northern coast of Africa and southern coast of Asia, respectively.
It occurs on Lesvos all year round. A favourite place for it is the Kalloni Salt Pans, where around 300 birds are recorded every winter and also in summer we see a few pairs with their chicks. It can also be found in the wetland of Messos, Polyhnitos Salt pan and in the estuaries of various rivers, generally in areas with brackish water and almost always in coastal wetlands, although it rarely nests in the interior of the island near small artificial wetlands.
Interesting Information
- It feeds on aquatic invertebrates (molluscs, snails, crustaceans and insects), small fish and plant material.
- Over 60,000 mosquito larvae were found in the stomach of a bird in northern Europe.
- It mainly feeds at night, for up to 12 hours (!) in winter when it must have reserves to survive the cold.
- After the nesting is over and after the chicks in an area have grown a little, many of them gather together (up to 100!) and are watched over by only a few parents in a kind of "nursery".
- It belongs to the same family as the Ruddy shelduck and is essentially neither a goose nor a duck; the two species are larger than ducks and differ from them in their long goose-like neck and straight and easy gait - not "duck-like"...- but differ from geese mainly in the size and shape of their beaks.
