Curaçao has seen its share of new and rare bird sightings this year in several areas on the island. Local birders are visiting a wide arrange of habitats on the island regularly to monitor the bird diversity and record both resident breeding birds, migratory birds and rare or new visitors. On the 12th of November another rare bird species was recorded. For the first time since autumn 1994; the Masked Duck.
Tropical Duck
This duck species lives predominantly in fresh water bodies such as dams, lakes and marshes but can also be found sometimes in mangrove swamps. They feed on aquatic plants, small crustaceans and aquatic insects.
It is a relatively small duck, measuring only about 30 tot 35 cm in length and have rather conspicuous stiff tail.
The Masked Duck occurs from South American up to Texas and also occurs in the Caribbean. However it is not known as a migratory bird so much as an occasional vagrant that will visit other locations if local circumstances are favourable. On Curaçao it was registered for the first time in the fall of 1994. This November 2024 registration is the first one of the species since then.
English: Masked Duck
Dutch: Maskerstekelstaart
Papiamentu: Patu mascara
Scientific: Nomonyx dominicus
Ebird checklist link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S202297942
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