Red Darner (Reds) – Shot in Luishuo, Luoyang, Lu'an River
Red Darner (scientific name: Tadorna ferruginea) has a large body size, with a body length of 51-68 cm and a weight of approximately 1.5 kg, which is slightly larger than domestic ducks. The body is mostly reddish-brown, with distinct white wing patches and copper-green alulae on the wings; the beak, legs, and tail are black; and male ducks have a black throat ring. During flight, the black flight feathers, tail, beak, and legs contrast sharply with the reddish-brown body feathers and white feathers on the upper and lower wing covers. It inhabits open grasslands, lakes, and farmland, feeding on various grains, insects, crustaceans, frogs, shrimp, and aquatic plants. The breeding season is 4-5 months, and it builds nests in caves near grasslands and deserts, laying 6-15 eggs per clutch. The eggs are oval-shaped and pale yellow, with the female taking responsibility for incubation.
