Indian Spot billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) is scarce resident
of northern Sri Lanka. They are
critically endangered species. They frequent fresh water bodies in open
country. These grey ducks possess black
bill and the edge is bright yellow. The wings are whitish with black flight
feathers below, and from above show a white-bordered green speculum and white
tertials. The male has a red spot on the base of the bill. The female is
smaller and thered spot on the bill is absent or inconspicuous. Juveniles are
browner and duller than adults.
They
feed by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. It nests on
the ground in vegetation near water, and lays 8-14 eggs.
These
photos were taken in Mandathivu and Kyats Islands in January 2014.
