Maccoa Duck

Oxyura maccoa

Other Pics: Female Maccoa

Other Names

    Érismature maccoa   Afrikaruderente   Malvasía Maccoa     Afrikaanse Stekelstaart   Gobbo maccoa

World: Africa: 2 populations one in East Africa from Ethiopia, eastern Sudan south to N Tanzania with a southern population which extends fro Namibia and Zimbabwe south to Cape Province.

Kenya: Predominantly found above 1500m in shallow water and swamps with fringing vegetation. Main populations are at Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha.

Maccoas are bottom feeders and so are found in shallow bodies of water. They dive to sift the bottom mud for small invertebrates, plant debris and seeds. They are shy and reluctant to take flight tending to submerge when alarmed. Males are aggressively territorial during the breeding season and will chase rivals from their group. They are generally silent birds but the mating call of the male sounds remarkably like a burp!