![]() ![]() During these two consecutive seasons, Lake El-Golea has thus sheltered a specific richness that can compete with the large wetlands of the Algerian coast and highlands (Baaziz et al., 2011, Lardjane-Hamiti et al., 2012, Bouzegag et al., 2013 On the same site, previous studies carried out during the 2008-2009 season showed an avian richness of thirty-four species belonging to twenty-one families and eight orders (Sadaoui, 2015). On the other hand, these wetlands also host key or flagship species of aquatic environments throughout the Western Palearctic: the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), the Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris), the Common Pochard(Aythya ferina), the Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus), etc., which often breed in this region (Bensaci et al., 2013, Mesbah et al., 2014 In general, these wetlands have hosted between nine and eleven species of waterbirds, Nouidjem et al., 2012. All these studies show on one hand that the specific richness of these environments varies between thirteen and seventeen species and that the families of Anatidae and Scolopacidae are the most diversified. Keywords: Marbled Teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris, phenology, breeding, diurnal behaviour, Algeria. The majority of Marbled Teal nests contained thirteen eggs, settled mainly in tufts of Salicornia fruticosa, Salsola fruticosa, Atriplex halimus on branches near the water and in Tamarix gallica near the shore. ![]() The breeding period stretched from late March to late June. The Marbled Teal breed regularly in most surveyed wetlands. Resting (7.6 %), flying (6.5 %), courtship (6 %), and agonistic behaviour (5 %). The other less dominant activities were swimming (10.9 %), preening (8.3 %), Which confirm the important role of wetland complex of Oued Righ as a diurnal feeding area. ![]() This activity was performed mainly by upending (75 %) and sometimes by head dipping (25 %). Feeding was the dominated diurnal behaviour with 55.7 %. The maximum of 600 Marbled Teal were observed in Decem ber, while less than 200 individuals were recorded in the hottest months of the year (June and July). ![]() Further of the local breeding population, an important number of migrating individuals came to spend the wintering season. The breeding of Marbled Teal was reported in the main wetlands of Oued Righ complex. Our results showed that this species have a sedentary breeder status. We conducted a survey on the Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris in the wetland complex of Oued Righ valley (Sahara of Algeria) from August 2007 to July 2011. ![]()
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