Marbled duck

Description

The marbled duck,or marbled teal (Marmaronetta angustirostris) is a medium-sized duck.The scientific name,Marmaronetta angustirostris,comes from the Greek marmaros,marbled and netta,a duck,and Latin angustus,narrow or small and rostris The marbled duck is approximately 39–42 cm (15–17 in) long.Adults are a pale sandy-brown colour,diffusely blotched off-white,with a dark eye-patch and shaggy head.Juveniles are similar but with more off-white blotches.In flight,the wings look pale without a marked pattern,and no speculum on the secondaries.These birds feed mainly in shallow water by dabbling or up-ending,occasionally diving.Little is known of their diet