38 British Diving Ducks 
Except during the breeding season the cry of the male is a hoarse grating sound 
like the words " korr-korr-korr " several times repeated, and uttered when the bird is 
alarmed or excited. It is often used as the duck rises or alights. The call of the female 
is in a higher key, with the syllables " kra-kra-kra," with the last note sometimes 
long-drawn out. The males, especially in the breeding season, utter a low wheezing groan 
which can only be heard at close range. I have heard them use this note both in the 
autumn and winter but not often. The sound is like that emitted by the male Common 
Pochard but not nearly so loud. 
The young make a gentle peeping cry, which they utter until they can fly. 
Ferruginous Ducks arrive at their breeding grounds in small parties about the first 
week in April and at once commence courtship. Like other diving ducks, several males 
will court one female who, by her actions, has shown a desire to pair. The actions of the 
male are as follows : The male swims quickly round and about the female or straight 
towards her with his head held up very high and bill tilted up to an angle of about 75°. 
At the same time he utters incessantly his spring note, a faint chatter somewhat resembling 
that uttered by the Mallard Drake, but much fainter. When close to the female he 
frequently throws the head up and back very quickly, but not nearly so far as the Common 
Pochard, so that the back of his head never quite touches the back or scapulars ; in this 
movement the bill is perpendicular. The other part of the show is when he swims quickly 
towards the duck with neck stretched out along the water, the neck itself being puffed out 
with air and having the appearance of being greatly swollen. During the latter movement 
the males constantly utter their wheezy groaning note, but the females during courtship, 
unlike the female Common Pochards, are remarkably silent, and I have never heard one 
utter a note, a fact which is confirmed by both Mr. Wormald and Mr. Gerald Legge.^ 
Writing on March 3, 191 2, Mr. Gerald Legge says : — 
" I have recently carefully observed the courtship of the female Ferruginous Duck. The throw- 
back of the head is very quick, but I am sure that, although the head goes far back, the bill is never more 
than perpendicular. The drakes swim slowly round the duck, keeping up a very low chatter, very like, 
but very much gentler than, the ordinary chatter of the Mallard Drake. Every now and then a male 
straightens out his head and neck along the water, and then sometimes raises it suddenly to its full 
extent, and makes that curious wheezing cry, which is very like that of the Common Pochard, but 
perhaps not so loud. I can never be sure whether it is Common Pochard or White-Eye making the 
call unless I actually see the bird do so. The male does not always straighten up after flattening himself 
on the water, but when he does he always makes the 'wheeze.' He also raised his head and neck 
slightly two or three times in quick succession, at the same time swelling out his neck and 
* wheezing.' The throw-back of the head takes place frequently, and is by far the most noticeable part of 
the display. 
" An old drake and a young drake (9 months old) are now both courting a young duck, but I have 
never seen the young male throw back the head. He straightens up his head and neck more often than 
the old male, and this seems to be the whole of his somewhat incomplete show." 
When the old male lays out his head and neck along the water, the pupil of the eye 
contracts so that the white of the irides is very brilliant. This is the case with nearly all 
drakes in full show. During courtship the male often sits high on the water, and may be 
seen moving about with the tail much elevated, the white splash of the under tail-coverts 
being most conspicuous on either side. 
^ I am indebted to both these observers for very complete notes on the courtship of the Ferruginous Duck. 
