Humpback Turpan - description, habitat, interesting facts

Turpan refers to a waterfowl belonging to the duck family. Individuals of male gender are famous for their black plumage and snow-white feathers. Today, not everyone knows who the turpans are. Big ducks prefer to settle away from people, so even the most experienced and seeing different birds, hunters rarely meet with this member of the family. Rarely found in nature, leads a hidden lifestyle.

External data

A duck is not the most ordinary, it is remembered to people by its extraordinary external data. Instead of nostrils, this specimen has a swollen area with a large transverse opening. A kind of peephole open on both sides.

The feathers are black, in some places you can notice greenish and purple hues. There is a white uneven strip in the eye area, and there are light feathers on the back of the head.

The legs are pinkish, the beak is large and grayish-brown. Otherwise, the individuals of the represented family are called humpbacks, because there is a characteristic bloating on the beak. This distinguishes the bird from other representatives of the species.

Description and habitat

1. Some hunters call these birds gloomy, partly this has its own truth. By external features, ducks look sad and gloomy. They are black with a non-standard beak. Another feature of individuals - whitish cold eyes. They make family members more intimidating, since the glassy gaze of many is perplexing.
2. There is another species of feathered friends, called the loon. This bird screams so loudly and heartbreakingly that its cries look like screams from horror films. After loud groans, the bird begins to literally laugh. Not everyone wants to meet her in the forest.
3. But back to the family under discussion, the Turpan. Since these ducks are inherently gloomy and intimidating, they are also sad. The ducks were called sad for behavior and external data. These representatives are one of the largest among duck birds.
4. Individuals of male sex can reach 1.5 kg by weight. They are powerful, with a strong black head with feathers of a bluish tint. In the area of ​​the base of the beak, instead of the nostrils, there is a growth with a through hole. For this characteristic, the bird is called the hornbeam.
5. Glassy eyes give the feathery gloom. Near them are spots that differ in color from the rest of the plumage. Paws are located closer to the tail, so it is inconvenient for birds to move. According to their overall characteristics, drakes grow up to 60 cm. Among other birds, turpans are the largest.
6. Females are smaller and lighter. On the case there are feathers of various colors, the main tone of the case is brownish with a red tint. Females have orange legs and large whitish blotches in the eye area. In terms of distribution, ducks are popular in the USA and Eurasia.

Food

1. As for nutrition, the considered individuals feed almost exactly the same as the rest of the ducks. Such birds eat plant foods without any problems. They also often enjoy animal food.
2. The individuals in question should best combine the diet. In the wild, such birds do just that. As for plant food, in this case, individuals feed on leaves, grass, grains, plant roots and algae.
3. As for animal food, among this should be distinguished fish, larvae, insects, invertebrates and small mammals.

Breeding

1. The birds in question begin to nest quite late. Only at the beginning of summer does the female begin to lay eggs and hatch. They begin to build a nest in dense bushes or among tall grass. Housing is often located near water bodies.
2. Dry grass and leaves are lined at the bottom of the nest. As a heater, its down is used. Such individuals can lay up to 10 eggs. In rare cases, more. The female immediately begins to hatch them. About a month later, young growth is born.
3. After that, the parents take the chicks to the water without any hesitation. At this time, young growth begins to slowly learn to get food on their own. During the hatching period of the eggs, the female molt occurs simultaneously. She does not allow the male to the nest.

Turpan nesting sites arrive quite late. Often this happens in late spring. In most cases, such individuals live in well-heated places near the bays. It is in such places that there is an abundance of various foods. Birds can enjoy small fish, shellfish, water bugs and various vegetation.