Carolinian duck: appearance and characteristics of the breed, where it lives and its diet

Caroline ducks are birds from the duck family. Their distinctive feature is bright feathers. These birds are the closest relatives of Asian mandarins. Under natural conditions, birds live in North America. At the same time, birds are often bred in European parks, from which they often fall into the wild. Plant and animal feed are considered the basis of the diet of individuals.

Where do they live?

Initially, these birds lived in North America. Subsequently, they became widespread in Europe. There, birds were kept in city parks.From there, they began to gradually fall into the wild and gradually assimilated there. Today these birds are found in different countries - France, England, Germany. At home, they live near water bodies - small lakes, slow rivers or swamps. Carolines willingly settle near low lakes that flood trees.

Lifestyle

Caroline ducks live not only in water. They also mastered the land. Representatives of this breed prefer closed areas. Birds often choose places with hanging tree branches. They hide birds from predatory animals and provide a safe hiding place.

Ducks have wide claws on their paws. Because of this, they easily cling to the tree bark. Birds usually feed in shallow water, floundering on the surface. At the same time, birds do not like to dive.

In winter, ducks form large flocks, which include up to 1000 individuals. They often migrate from freshwater to mixed waters.This helps in finding food. At the same time, it is impossible to meet carolins in open areas or on the sea coast. Birds prefer to avoid such areas. The way of life of birds is closely connected with the forest. Therefore, they learned to fly beautifully, masterfully skirting the trees. The birds are also excellent swimmers. When danger appears, they can dive.

Appearance and characteristics

Carolina is considered one of the most beautiful and colorful birds in the world. The length of her body is approximately 50 centimeters, and the wingspan is 70. Birds weigh from 480 to 780 grams. At the same time, males are larger than females.

A distinctive feature of birds is their coloring. They are characterized by a black head, which has a greenish or purple tint. It is decorated with long white stripes. The red beak, on which there is a white spot, contrasts with the shade of the head. The beak is characterized by a yellow base and a black tip.The bird also has red eyelids and eyes.

Feathers include multiple sections:

• brown breast covered with white dots;
• lemon sides and light brown body;
• white belly.

In this case, the color of the outer part of the wings and back coincides with the head. Additional shades are characteristic of secondary parts of the body. The chest is separated from the remaining body by 2 stripes - white and black. Separately, it is worth mentioning the long crest. It goes down from the head to the back of the neck.

The above description is more consistent with the male. At the same time, a less spectacular color is characteristic of the female. Young birds, regardless of gender, look like an adult female.If the male becomes more colorful, this indicates the onset of puberty.

In appearance, the caroline is similar to the mandarin duck that lives in Asia, these birds are considered close relatives.

Diet

Birds are characterized by daytime activity. They eat the following food categories:

1. Vegetable - water lilies, duckweed, nuts, seeds. Ducks also eat mulberries or grapes. They can eat small acorns. When food is scarce, birds eat the crops of the fields. These include millet, soybeans, corn and oats.
2. Animals - ducks eat spiders, fish fry and various insects. Carolines can eat dragonflies, ants, grasshoppers.

Features of reproduction

Already in the 2nd year of life, birds are able to breed. They are considered monogamous, but pairs are mostly created for one season.In spring - in March and April - ducks are actively searching for secluded places where they can build a nest. Before the start of the breeding season, ducks play long mating games.

During these periods, individuals assume characteristic positions on the water. At the same time, the male depicts that he drinks and cleans feathers, turns the back of his head towards the female, and raises his crest.

The initiator of mating games is the female, not the male, as is customary with other birds. For the nest of a duck, hollows or artificially made nests are used. They are placed 9 meters from the surface of the earth and not far from water bodies. Sometimes carolins use hollows left by other birds. The female is responsible for choosing a nest for birds.

Eggs are sprinkled with wood dust and plant debris. She uses her down as an additional warming layer. In addition to protection from the influence of cold weather, such a shelter protects the masonry from predatory animals.Carolines lay 12-15 eggs and incubate them for a month. The male stays with the female for 3 weeks. After that, he flies away. During this period, drakes molt. On the remaining days, the duck briefly flies out of the nest in the morning or evening in search of food.

A day after birth, the chicks get out onto a branch to jump to the ground. Their mother is waiting for them below. When ducklings hit the ground, they go to the water. At this time, the mother teaches them to find food and in the first weeks provides reliable protection from enemies. After a while, the mother flies away to molt. Birds fledge at 2 months.

The subtleties of captivity

Caroline ducks have been bred in captivity for a long time. In optimally selected conditions, birds can live up to 30 years.To do this, they need an aviary with an area of at least 3 square meters for 1-2 birds. Stainless steel is used as the material for the frame. At the same time, ordinary sand with a thickness of about 20 centimeters should be placed on the floor. A prerequisite for birds is the presence of a reservoir. It must be at least 70 centimeters in diameter.

In order for birds to nest and breed, a box must be placed in the aviary. It serves as a replacement for the usual duck nest. In appearance, the building looks like a birdhouse. It is placed at a height of 1.5 meters from the floor.

Birds can hardly stand the hot weather. At high temperatures, their plumage falls out and becomes dull. In winter, pets live in a dry and warm room - a barn is perfect for this.

What to feed and how to breed at home

Carolines mostly eat plant foods. They can also eat insects. The diet is based on the following products:

• seeds;
• cereals;
• aquatic crops;
• legumes;
• corn;
• invertebrate insects;
• oats;
• plant buds.

Caroline ducks are easy to breed. It is important that the female has a cozy nest. At this time, she needs a sufficient amount of protein and calcium. A poultry clutch contains a maximum of 12 eggs. At the same time, ducklings are hatched from almost everyone.

Pros

The benefits of carolines include the following:

• spectacular appearance;
• strong immunity;
• big masonry;
• high chick survival rates;
• the ability to adapt to different climates.

Caroline ducks are distinguished by bright plumage, and therefore look very impressive. Mostly birds live in the wild, but they can also be bred in captivity.

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