tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post5507870057602787540..comments2024-02-17T13:09:48.341-08:00Comments on Northwest Nature Notes: RUDDY DUCKS ARE ODD DUCKSSlater Museum of Natural Historyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09060874877227806320noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post-50293457840274422942013-01-21T20:44:55.180-08:002013-01-21T20:44:55.180-08:00They have huge dicks.They have huge dicks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post-44963707696561986812010-12-03T17:43:51.118-08:002010-12-03T17:43:51.118-08:00I don't think we know whether brighter-billed ...I don't think we know whether brighter-billed males are more attractive to females, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. That might have selected for the bright color in the first place.<br /><br />The long copulatory organ may be an adaptation to sperm competition. The longer it is, the more likely it is to deposit sperm in the appropriate place in the female where fertilization takes place, and the more likely that male's sperm would displace sperm placed there by other males. Mating is very competitive in this species and other ducks.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15828384580284041473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596499451041435250.post-10476346058752021262010-12-02T17:30:41.044-08:002010-12-02T17:30:41.044-08:00Ruddy ducks certainly are odd ducks! What a fasci...Ruddy ducks certainly are odd ducks! What a fascinating study of a local animal.<br />Particularly interesting to myself was the color change in the male bill brought on by mating season. Is it comparable to the combs on male chickens? Is the shade of blue obtained by the male dependent on his health? It seems to be a characteristic that is development to impress potential mates, so what makes any one bill more desirable than the next? <br />Additionally, on a more vague note, the fact that ducks have spiral shaped genitalia that has the potential to be incredibly long in relation to their size seems... well more cumbersome and awkward than anything else. What might be the reason for this characteristic?<br />-curiousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com