Description

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Context:

Rare bird species like the Baikal teal and falcated duck, absent from Delhi-NCR for nearly a decade, have been sighted this winter, delighting bird watchers and nature enthusiasts.

About Falcated duck

Aspect	Details
Scientific Name	Mareca falcata
Distribution	Found in eastern Siberia, Mongolia, and northern Japan; wintering grounds include Southeast Asia and eastern India. Also sighted in America, Poland, and Thailand.
Habitat	Freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and swamps are surrounded by forests.
Breeding Season	May to early July. Nests are built on the ground near water, often in tall grass or bushes.
Diet	Mostly herbivorous: plant matter, seeds, rice, and aquatic plants. Occasionally consumes small invertebrates and soft-shelled mollusks.
India Sightings	Rare and Sporadic.
Threats	Hunting for food and feathers.
Protection Status	IUCN: Near Threatened

About Ducks

Duck is the common name for numerous species of waterfowl in the family Anatidae. Ducks are generally smaller and shorter-necked than swans and geese, which are members of the same family.

Divided among several subfamilies, they are a form taxon; they do not represent a monophyletic group (the group of all descendants of a single common ancestral species), since swans and geese are not considered ducks. Ducks are mostly aquatic birds, and may be found in both fresh water and sea water.

They are omnivorous and eat seeds, fruit, insects, aquatic plants, grass, fish, and crustaceans.

Source:

https://theprint.in/india/delhi-has-rare-winter-guests-this-year-birds-like-baikal-teal-falcated-duck-sighted-after-a-decade/2442591/

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Falcated Duck:

It is found in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and swamps surrounded by forests.
It breeds from June to August, building nests in tall grass or bushes near water.
The species is classified as 'Vulnerable' by the IUCN.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A) Only one
B) Only two
C) All three
D) None

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Falcated Duck is found in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and swamps surrounded by forests. The duck is mostly herbivorous, feeding on plant matter, seeds, rice, and aquatic plants, but occasionally consumes small invertebrates and mollusks.

Statement 2 is correct: The breeding season of the Falcated Duck is from May to early July, and they build nests in tall grass or bushes near water.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The IUCN status of the Falcated Duck is "Near Threatened," not "Vulnerable."