Marbled Duck: A Rare Visitor to Sultanpur National Park

Why in the News?

A marbled duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) has been sighted at Sultanpur National Park, Haryana, after a remarkable gap of 30 years. This unexpected appearance highlights the importance of wetland conservation in India.

About the Marbled Duck

• Scientific Name: Marmaronetta angustirostris
  • Derived from Greek and Latin: "marmaros" (marbled), "netta" (duck), "angustus" (narrow), and "-rostris" (billed).
• Common Name: Marbled Duck or Marbled Teal
• Description:
  • Medium-sized waterfowl, measuring 39–42 cm in length.
  • Features grey-white marbled plumage, dark eye patches, and a shaggy head.

Habitat and Distribution

• Habitat:
  • Prefers shallow, temporary freshwater bodies with dense vegetation.
  • Found in coastal lagoons and slow-moving rivers.
• Distribution:
  • Native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and parts of western and central Asia.

Behavior and Diet

• Behavior:
  • Gregarious, forming flocks even during breeding season.
• Diet:
  • Consumes seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and green plants.
  • Feeds by dabbling and up-ending.

Threats to the Marbled Duck

1. Habitat Destruction:
   • Wetland drainage and agricultural expansion have significantly reduced its habitats.
2. Illegal Hunting:
   • Vulnerable to poaching and trapping.
3. Climate Change:
   • Alters wetland ecosystems, further threatening its survival.

Conservation Status

• IUCN: Vulnerable
• Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix II