Editing Freckled duck (section)

==Ecology==
===Diet===

The diet of the freckled duck has been subjected to a degree of controversy and disagreement over the years, potentially due to the versatile diet of different populations and distributions of this duck. Despite this, it is widely agreed that the freckled duck is a resilient, specialist [[filter feeder]] that consumes a range of aquatic vegetation, insects, algae, larvae and crustaceans.<ref name=:27>{{cite journal|last1=Norman|first1=F. I.|last2=Brown|first2=R. S.|year=1985|title=Gizzard grit in some Australian waterfowl|journal=Wildfowl|volume=36|pages=77–80}}</ref><ref name=:6>{{cite journal|last=Corrick|first=A. H.|year=1980|title=Freckled Ducks on lakes in the Western District, Victoria|journal=Australian Bird Watcher|volume=8|issue=1|pages=254–255}}</ref> Studies have found that the freckled duck prefers to feed in shallow water, using its bill to strain food particles from the mud or sand.<ref name=:8>{{cite journal|last=Crome|first=F. H.|year=1985|title=An Experimental Investigation of Filter-Feeding on Zooplankton by Some Specialized Waterfowl|journal=Australian Journal of Zoology|volume=33|issue=6|pages=849–862|doi=10.1071/zo9850849}}</ref>

===Social behaviour===
[[File:The birds of Australia (16769491056).jpg|thumb|right|Illustration from [[The Birds of Australia (Broinowski)|The Birds of Australia]] (1890) (with [[Pacific black duck]])]] 
A highly gregarious species, the freckled duck is known to have flock sizes ranging from 10 to 100 individuals, especially outside of breeding season. During breeding season, these flocks often break up into smaller sub-units, scattered throughout wetland and swamp systems.<ref name=:7>{{cite report|last=Craig|first=M.|year=1994|title=Captive species management plan for freckled duck: Stictonetta naevosa|location=Parkville, Victoria|publisher=Zoological Board of Victoria}}</ref>

Despite these large flock sizes, this species is lacking in demonstrative displays towards one another, with only cryptic gestures and few interactions towards fellow flock mates. The rare interaction that is observed within this species is usually of a quarrelsome nature.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Fullagar|first1=P. J.|last2=Davey|first2=C. C.|last3=Rushton|first3=D. K.|year=1990|title=Social behaviour of the Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa with particular reference to the Axle-grind|journal=Wildfowl|volume=41|pages=53–61}}</ref>

===Bathing===

While there has been little research into the bathing behaviour of the freckled duck, it is known that a body of water (e.g. a swamp or dam) is essential for many natural behaviours such as feeding, mating and bathing.<ref name=:2>{{cite journal|last=Braithwaite|first=L. W.|year=1976|title=Notes on the breeding of the Freckled Duck in the Lachlan River Valley|journal=Emu|volume=76|issue=3|pages=127–132|doi=10.1071/mu9760127}}</ref> Freckled ducks have been observes preening both within water and after emerging from water while in a roosting position.<ref name=:12>{{cite journal|last=Frith|first=H. J.|year=1964|title=The downy young of the Freckled Duck, Stictonetta naevosa|journal=Emu|volume=64|issue=1|pages=42–47|doi=10.1071/mu964042}}</ref> There is no evidence that the freckled duck dust bathes or requires any other substrate for bathing.

===Reproductive behaviour===

The freckled duck is a [[Animal sexual behaviour#Polygamy|polygamous]] species that undertakes short term, seasonal [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]] pairings in the wild. In this short term pairing, the male defends the receptive female during the pre-egg laying stage of the breeding season. During this time, the male also helps construct and defend the nest site—but leaves before the female lays her clutch, and plays no further role in rearing or defending his offspring.

The freckled duck has few pre or post [[Copulation (zoology)|copulatory]] behaviours. Copulation occurs in the water with the male approaching a receptive female, who adopts a semi-submerged orientation, with her head stretched outwards and tail raised. The male then mounts the female and clutches the feathers on the lower neck of the female during copulation. After dismounting, both sexes display bathing and preening behaviours.

The breeding season of the freckled duck is basically regular, with a generic breeding season between September and December. However, it retains the ability to breed out of season. Breeding out of season highly correlates with periods of heavy rainfall and flooding.

[[File:Freckled Duck chick SMTC.jpg|thumb|left|Chick at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck, North Carolina]]
Both male and female freckled ducks reach sexual maturity at around 12 months of ages when the first breeding occurrence can commence. The freckled duck has been known to continue breeding annually throughout their life, with records suggesting successful breeding in birds in excess to 10 years of age.<ref name=:28/>

The freckled duck has a standard [[Incubation period|incubation]] period of between 26 and 28 days, though some sources have recorded incubation periods of up to 35 days. The female is solely responsible for egg incubation and only leaves the eggs for short periods to feed.

The average clutch is seven eggs, but can range between four and 14 eggs.<ref name=:4>{{cite journal|last=Briggs|first=S. V.|year=1982|title=Food habits of the Freckled Duck and associated waterfowl in North-western New South Wales|journal=Wildfowl|volume=33|pages=88–93}}</ref> Clutches of up to 14 eggs can occur naturally, though this occurrence mainly appears to be the result of females 'dumping' additional eggs into another female's nest. This occurrence is common within freckled duck populations as it enables the offending females to pass on their genetic material while not expending energy to raise their hatchlings.<ref name=:19>{{cite journal|last=Jaensch|first=R.|year=2003|title=Breeding by freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa in the Diamantina Channel Country|journal=Sunbird: The Journal of the Queensland Ornithological Society|volume=33|issue=1|pages=24–28}}</ref>

The eggs of the freckled duck are glossy, smooth and almost perfectly oval in shape. They are white in colour, ranging from shades of cream to ivory. The freckled duck egg is unique, having an exceptionally thick but soft shell unlike that of any other species. Egg measurements usually fall between 60-65mm by 45-48mm and weigh an average of 66g.<ref name=:13>{{cite journal|last=Frith|first=H. K.|year=1965|title=Ecology of the Freckled Duck Stichonetta naevosa (Gould)|journal=CSIRO Wildlife Research|volume=10|issue=1|pages=125–139|doi=10.1071/cwr9650125}}</ref>

Freckled duck hatchlings are [[precocial]], meaning they hatch fully functional and able to feed themselves. Despite this, they still need their mother for the best chance of survival. Apart from protection, the hatchlings need the mother to teach them important social cues and behaviours.<ref name=:22>{{cite book|last=Kear|first=J.|year=2005|title=Ducks, Geese and Swans|volume=2: Species Accounts (Cairina to Mergus)|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press}}</ref>

The ducklings [[fledge]] late compared with other waterfowl species, at nine weeks, when they no longer need their mother's protection. At this point, the mother and fledglings are likely to re-join a larger flock.(Flinchum, 2005)