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Use of saltwater and freshwater habitats by wintering redheads in southern Texas

Hydrobiologia
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https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00027861

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Abstract

Behavioral data were gathered for redheads (Aythya americana Eyton) using saltwater and freshwater habitats in southern Texas, the northern portion of their major wintering range, in 1989–90. Saltwater and freshwater habitats were used for different purposes by wintering redheads. Approximately 41% of all redheads in saltwater habitats were feeding, while only 0.1% of redheads in freshwater habitats were feeding. Redheads in saltwater habitats drank infrequently (0.3%), but 7.5% of redheads in freshwater wetlands were drinking. Only 23 courting activities were observed, but all occurred in freshwater wetlands. This study showed that redheads depend on saltwater habitats for feeding, which confirmed similar results from recent studies of redheads in the central and southern portions of the Laguna Madre in southern Texas. This study also showed that redheads depend on freshwater wetlands as sources of drinking water. This concurred with data on redhead behavior in the central portion of the Laguna Madre in Texas, but not for redheads wintering in the southern part of the Laguna Madre. Both habitats, saltwater and freshwater, must be considered as integral components of the redhead winter range throughout southern Texas.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Use of saltwater and freshwater habitats by wintering redheads in southern Texas
Series title Hydrobiologia
DOI 10.1007/BF00027861
Volume 279/280
Issue 1
Year Published 1994
Language English
Publisher Springer
Contributing office(s) Columbia Environmental Research Center, National Wetlands Research Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Description 9 p.
First page 279
Last page 287
Country United States
State Texas
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