Thalassornis leuconotus

HABITAT:
Wetlands, marshes and swamps.

DISTRIBUTION:
Widespread in tropical Africa except for the equatorial rain forest zone.

SIZE AND APPEARANCE:
Dumpy and Grebe-like in shape with abnormally large heads; the white back is seldom seen except in flight. Adapted to aquatic life, their long legs are placed well to the rear of the body to facilitate diving.

DIET:
Foraging mostly by diving in shallow water, these ducks feed on primarily aquatic plants, especially water lilies. Ducklings feed on insect larvae found on the bottom of muddy ponds.

MISC:
Flight is only possible following prolonged pattering over the water's surface, and they typically swim downwind prior to take-offs. Flying only as a last resort, alarmed ducks prefer to submerge as a means of escape.

PROJECT NOTES:
Mike brought in eggs from a trip to Botswana in 1972. They became established in Europe, but still prove to be difficult to breed.

Very few of these birds are found in the United States. The only ones have come from two pairs Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Center brought in through quarantine. Mike Lubbock was successful  at breeding them for the first time in North America.

MIKE'S COMMENTS:
"No one is really sure if the African White-backed Duck is closer linked to the tree duck family or the stiff-tail family. Their eggs are a unique color, being deep brown compared to other waterfowl eggs."

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