August bird of the month: Eastern Spot-Bill Duck
Each month, we’re shining a spotlight on one of our fascinating feathered residents, offering the chance to learn more about the incredible diversity of birdlife here at WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre.
For the month of August, we are introducing our Eastern Spot-Bill Duck!
Subtly striking, the Eastern Spot-Bill Duck is a close relative of the Mallard. One of the distinctive features that sets this species apart is the yellow-tipped ‘spotted’ bill, which is also the reasoning behind its name. Here at Martin Mere, we’re proud to care for eight Eastern Spot-Bill Ducks.
In the wild, Eastern Spot-Bill Ducks can be found across Russia, Mongolia, Sakhalin, Korea, Japan, and eastern China. They are adaptable ducks, thriving in a range of wetlands, lakes, and slow-moving rivers.
The species is also a dabbling duck, meaning they feed by tipping forward to graze on plants and insects rather than diving underwater. Interestingly, they are also known to forage mainly in the evening or at night, cleverly taking advantage of the darkness to stay safe from predators.
The ducklings are also very early swimmers! Within hours of hatching, their adorable ducklings are ready to follow their mother around the water’s edge.
Want to get a closer look?
Visitors to WWT Martin Mere can see these birds up close in our Oriental area, located next to our Asian small-clawed otters.
WWT Members enter free, but non-members can enjoy 10% off admission tickets when prebooking online.
