#blue duck

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

Have you seen the blue duck (Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos)?

I have now

Yes, in photos/videos

Yes, irl

I'm not sure

Voting ended onNov 14, 2025

[takunwilliams]

Blue cow 2024

by technodrome1

[positivelyradishing]

[violetsandshrikes]

A leucistic Blue duck or Whio, on the Whakapapanui Stream in Tongariro National Park, New Zealand. This is a leucistic male with his mate - once bonded and a territory established, whio will defend the territory together for life. (source)

[kayrosebee]

April 19, 2019

109/365

Happy Birthday to my Older Brother!

[dreamofsleepzz]

Feels bad, shiny hunting ponyta for a week now. This lil one popped up and I had to let it despawn and it was so painful LOL

[a-dinosaur-a-day]

Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos

By Bernard Spragg, in the Public Domain

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Name: Hymenolaimus malachorhynchos

Status: Extant

First Described: 1843

Described By: Gray

Classification: Dinosauria, Saurischia, Eusaurischia, Theropoda, Neotheropoda, Averostra, Tetanurae, Orionides, Avetheropoda, Coelurosauria, Tyrannoraptora, Maniraptoriformes, Maniraptora, Pennaraptora, Paraves, Eumaniraptora, Averaptora, Avialae, Euavialae, Avebrevicauda, Pygostylia, Ornithothoraces, Euornithes, Ornithuromorpha, Ornithurae, Neornithes, Neognathae, Galloanserae, Anseriformes, Anseres, Anatoidea, Anatidae

Hymenolaimus, otherwise known as the Whio (pronounced Fee-oh), is an endangered cuk from New Zealand (so, that explains why it’s endangered). The Whio is a rather taxonomically distinct bird, though it’s probably closest to the dabbling ducks. This bird weighs up to 1 kilogram, though usually its a bit less than that. They are dark grey with some greenish color on the heads, with blueish top plumage, and chestnut-speckled chests. They also have pale bills. They look at least a little different depending on whether they’re from the North or South Island populations, but they aren’t different subspecies. They nest in hollow logs and small caves; and believe that and its endangered status, they are rather rare ducks. 

By World Playground, CC BY-SA 3.0

They don’t fly often, but they are powerful swimmers in strong currents. They feed on aquatic invertebrates, especially caddisfly larvae. They nest in August and October, with the female incubating the nest and the male standing guard, though they are at risk from spring floods, making breeding an often difficult endeavor. Currently, there seem to be at maximum 3,000 ducks left in the wild, and its localized population on an ecologically overturned island increases their vulnerability. Conservation efforts, including a five-year management plan, are underway. 

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Source: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_duck

[fluffytherapy]