Duck s & Geese • Anatidae No less than 14 species of ducks and two species of geese have been recorded in Aruba. White-cheecked Pintails and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks breed in Aruba. All are migratory although some ducks may be observed year round. Seven species are regular visitors. White-cheeked Pintail and Blue-winged Teal are the most numerous. Brackish water ponds, locally known as saliùas, are their favorite hangout locations (for example, Bubali pond). When the ponds contain sufficient water, ducks will remain in larger numbers in Aruba up to May. From mid-September to the end of October they start arriving once again in their favorite Caribbean vacation destination. Male and female ducks tend to be very different with the males typically very bright and colorfully marked. Females tend to be less bright, and quite dull by comparison, but are less obvious to predators when sitting on the nest incubating eggs or protecting small chicks.
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