Falcated Duck

The Falcated Duck breeds across eastern Siberia, northern China, and Japan, wintering in wetlands and rice fields further south in East and Southeast Asia, with occasional vagrants reaching North America. Breeding males are among the most ornately plumaged of all dabbling ducks, named for their remarkable curved tertial feathers.

The defining feather feature is a set of greatly elongated, curved tertial feathers on the breeding male, drooping over the tail like sickles or scythes, gray with black and white edging—a shape found in no other dabbling duck. Head and crown feathers show glossy bronze-green and purple iridescence, with a slightly shaggy crest at the nape. Breast feathers form a pattern of black crescent-shaped scaling on a whitish ground. Females lack the ornamental tertials and are mottled brown overall, similar to female wigeon, but with a more scaly-patterned breast and a dark bill.

Strong sexual dimorphism, with eclipse males resembling females and losing the elongated tertial feathers outside the breeding season. Juveniles resemble adult females.

Breeds around freshwater lakes, marshes, and slow rivers across eastern Siberia, northern China, and Japan. Winters in freshwater wetlands and rice fields across eastern and southeastern Asia, with rare vagrancy recorded in North America.

Feeds by dabbling for seeds and aquatic vegetation in shallow water. Gregarious in winter, often forming mixed flocks with other dabbling ducks. Nests near freshwater, generally in dense waterside cover. Breeding males give a soft, distinctive whistling call during courtship.