Silver Ducks

Silver ducks¹ are diving ducks native to Fekai Lake on the central Plain of Kings in eastern Dragonía, which they share with several other birds species. They are flightless, like most birds in Dragonía, lacking wings altogether, but are powerful swimmers, which allows the birds to feed on various aquatic plants, insects and molluscs deeper in the lake than other ducks for up to half a minute at a time, at the cost of moving sluggishly on land.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

The ducks lay up to nine creamy-white eggs during springtime, easily distinguished from those of their relatives for being unusually spherical, which are kept safe in simple nests close to the lake's shores. Over the course of a month, the hen scarcely leaves the nest except to briefly preen in the water once a day, while the drake stays close by to defend his family.
Although the ducklings are able to feed as soon as they can follow their parents into the lake, they stay with them for a few months until they've fledged, and become adult after two years.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Being great in numbers, silver ducks are commonly hunted with slings or -to lesser extent- bow and arrows and their eggs are gathered by the local Mörkels around Fekai Lake, more so than other waterfowl in the region. They are eaten by nobles and commoners alike, and the feathers -particularly from the back and tail- are often used to adorn bracelets, necklaces and talismans.

Cultural Significance

Silver ducks appear in the myths of certain tribes around the lake, and often depicted on frescoes, tapestries and rugs there.
The Katerans in the kingdom of Lelenda believe that the birds were fashioned from silver by the divine smith Pegíar, son of the sun god Aþar, for practicing before creating the silver giants to serve the gods. In South-Eila, silver ducks are associated with Nexþei, goddess of rain and music, whose attempts at teaching the birds to sing only resulted in quacking, but she grew so fond of the sound that Nexþei asked the fertility goddess Leþa to bless the ducks, thus explaining the large population.

Average Intelligence

About as smart as a pink-headed duck.

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¹Original icelandic: silfurendur, singular: silfurönd.

Silver duck by Lappalingur

Origin/Ancestry

Plain of Kings

Lifespan

8 years

Conservation Status

Least Concern.

Average Length

~60cm

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The drakes have a glossy, silvery head, white collar, black belly, white back with black vermiculated markings, white tail-feathers, black legs and beak. The hens have similar markings, though the head is dull grey and the rest is black and light brown. The eyes are pale green