Comparative study of the courtship displays of Meller's Duck Anas melleri,Yellowbilled Duck A-undulata and Northern Mallard A-platyrhynchos.

The little-known Meller's Duck Anas melleri is a monochromatic species ende mic to Madagascar that has been linked to the Northern Mallard A. platyrhyn chos, or the African Yellowbilled Duck A. undulata. This study compared gro up courtship between these species, and analysed the structure and duration of the main display components, the grunt-whistle, head-up-tail-up and dow n-up. Meller's Duck differed significantly from the other species, and lack ed a down-up display. Meller's Duck shows some behavioural similarities to the African Black Duck A. sparsa.