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Hartlaub's duck
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Anseriformes
Family:	Anatidae
Genus:	Pteronetta Salvadori, 1895
Species:	P. hartlaubii
Binomial name
Pteronetta hartlaubii (Cassin, 1860)

Hartlaub's duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii) is a dark chestnut-coloured duck of African forests. Formerly included in the paraphyletic "perching duck" assemblage, it was later moved to the dabbling duck assemblage. However, it is fairly distinct from the "typical" dabbling ducks, and is placed in the monotypic genus Pteronetta. It is named after the German naturalist Gustav Hartlaub.

Analysis of mtDNA sequences of the cytochrome b and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 genes suggests that it belongs into a very distinct clade—possibly a subfamily of its own—together with the blue-winged goose, another African species of waterfowl with uncertain affinities.

Description

On average, Hartlaub's ducks range from 56-58 centimeters in height. This species of duck is monotypic, meaning there is only one type of this species. Juveniles have feathers with pale tips on their breast and abdomen. Their adult coat is fully grown after six months. Adult males weigh between 925 and 1140 grams, and they have a white head with reddish-brown eyes. The females have barely any white on their heads, have dark red eyes, and weigh between 770 and 805 grams. The amount of white on each duck’s head will vary. Both sexes have a blue patch on their wing that distinguishes them from other waterfowl. During mating season, the base of the male’s bill will enlarge.

Distribution

Hartlaub's duck is resident in equatorial West and Central Africa, from Guinea and Sierra Leone east through Nigeria to South Sudan, and south to Gabon, Congo and Zaire.

Hartlaub’s ducks reside in swampy marshes, tropical forests, savanna areas, rivers, and streams. In Liberia, they live in mangroves. However, they will only gather in flocks in Liberia from January to May. Year-round, they will live in parts of central western Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

Behavior

In flight, Hartlaub’s ducks will quack “ko-ko-ko-ko” or “kakakakarr.” Their conversational sounds are “whit-whit-whit.” When threatened, the males will quack a fast “wheezy whistle.” When juveniles are in distress, they will give three calls in evenly spaced quick descending notes.

Their diet consists of aquatic invertebrates, such as insects and crustaceans. The Republic of Congo’s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park reports that the ducks regularly feed on the insects found in elephant dung. They’ll also eat seeds and insect larvae. To remove ectoparasites, these ducks have been observed jumping onto the backs of bongo and forest buffalo. They are most active in the early morning and evening.

Breeding

There is no evidence of nests, but they mate during rainy seasons in the months of June to September. The females lay cream-colored eggs, and the chicks have sooty-black heads, yellowish bodies, and an additional orange tinge to the chin, neck, and face. These chicks weigh approximately 35-46 grams upon hatching.

Population

This species exhibits an expansive range, preventing it from meeting vulnerable criteria based on range size, habitat quality, and population limits. Despite a declining population trend, it does not demonstrate the rapidity required to warrant worrying over the possibility of distinction or at-risk status. The population size, varying from moderately small to large, also falls short of vulnerable thresholds. Consequently, this species is designated as "Least Concern" because of its extensive range and stable population count.

Conservation

In 2006, there were reported to be between 26,000 and 110,000 Hartlaub’s ducks in the world. Hartlaub’s ducks were formerly considered threatened. However, as of 2020, they are no longer considered to be such. One of the largest threats to the Hartlaub's duck is forest destruction, hunting, and water pollution from mining and poison-fishing. This species is hunted and traded for medicinal purposes in Nigeria.

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Pteronetta hartlaubii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22680070A92841893. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680070A92841893.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Madge, Steve & Burn, Hilary (1987): Wildfowl : an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world. Christopher Helm, London, p. 185, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
3. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Bird? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 180–159–160.
4. Johnson, Kevin P.; Sorenson, Michael D. (1999). "Phylogeny and biogeography of dabbling ducks (genus Anas): a comparison of molecular and morphological evidence" (PDF). Auk. 116 (3): 792–805. doi:10.2307/4089339. JSTOR 4089339.
5. ^ "Hartlaub's Duck". Retrieved 18 October 2023.
6. ^ "Hartlaub's Duck". Retrieved 18 October 2023.

External links

• Duck Behavior & Habitat

v t e Genera of waterfowl and their extinct allies
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Clade: Neognathae Superorder: Galloanserae Avemetatarsalia see Avemetatarsalia Theropoda see Theropoda Maniraptora see Maniraptora Anserimorphae see below↓
Anserimorphae Anserimorphae †Conflicto †Gastornis? †Dromornithidae? †Pelagornithidae? †Vegaviidae? †Presbyornithidae Bumbalavis Headonornis? Murgonornis Presbyornis Proherodius Telmabates Teviornis Wilaru †Anachronornithidae Anachronornis Danielsavis? Anseriformes sensu stricto †Agnopterus? †Eonessa †"Headonornis"? †Naranbulagornis †Paakniwatavis †Palaeopapia †Peioa †Petropluvialis? †Proherodius? †Wunketru Anhimae †Chaunoides Anhimidae Anhima †Chainkanas Chauna Anseres Anseranatoidea †Anatalavis? Anseranatidae Anseranas †Anserpica †Eoanseranas Anatoidea †Paranyrocidae Paranyroca Anatidae See below ↓
Anatidae Anatidae †Aldabranas? †Allgoviachen †Ankonetta? †Awengkere †Bambolinetta? †Caerulonettion †Cayaoa? †Chelychelynechen? †Cousteauvia †Eonerornis? †Eutelornis? †Garganornis? †Helonetta? †Heteroanser? †Lavanttalornis †Loxornis? †Mioquerquedula? †Nogusunna? †Notochen †Proanser? †Protomelanitta? †Ptaiochen? †Selenonetta †Sharganetta? †Sinanas? †Tagayanetta †Talpanas? †Teleornis? †Thambetochen? †Wasonaka? †Romainvillinae Paracygnopterus Romainvillia Saintandrea Dendrocygninae Dendrocygna Thalassornis †Dendrocheninae Dendrochen Manuherikia Mionetta Stictonettinae Stictonetta Anserinae †Afrocygnus †Annakacygna Anser †Anserobranta †Asiavis †Bonibernicla Branta Cereopsis †"Chenopis" †Cnemiornis Coscoroba †Cygnavus Cygnus †Cygnopterus †Eremochen †Megalodytes †Paracygnus †Presbychen Tadorninae Alopochen †Australotadorna †Brantadorna Cairina †Centrornis Chloephaga Cyanochen Hymenolaimus †Kaikenia Merganetta †Miotadorna †Nannonetta Neochen Plectropterus †Pleistoanser Radjah Sarkidiornis Tachyeres Tadorna †Tamtamia Anatinae Aix Amazonetta †Anabernicula Asarcornis Biziura Callonetta †Chenoanas? Chenonetta †Dunstanetta †Eoneornis? †Lavadytis Lophonetta Malacorhynchus Marmaronetta Netta Nettapus †Pinpanetta Pteronetta †?Rhodonessa Salvadorina Speculanas Oxyurini Heteronetta Nomonyx Oxyura †Tirarinetta Mergini Bucephala †Camptorhynchus †Chendytes Clangula Histrionicus Lophodytes Melanitta Mergellus Mergus Polysticta †Shiriyanetta Somateria Anatini Anas Mareca †Matanas Sibirionetta Spatula Aythyini Aythya

• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Anatinae
• Ducks
• Birds of the African tropical rainforest
• Birds described in 1859
• Taxa named by John Cassin