Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Some physiologic blood values of wild diving ducks

January 1, 1972

Blood samples were obtained from 54 canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria), 30 lesser scaup (A. affinis), 3 ring-necks (A. collaris), and 3 buffleheads (Bucephala albeola), which were wintering on Chesapeake Bay. These blood samples were used for: red blood cell counts (cans. 2.56 x 106/mm3; scaup 2.45 x 106/mm3; ring-necks 2.50 x 106mm3; buffiehead 2.64 x lO6/mm3), packed cell volume (cans. 52.2%; scaup 57.1%; ring-neck 49.1%; buffieheads 54.3%), total protein (cans. 4.4 g/100 ml; scaup 4.4 g/100 mi; ring-neck 3.5 g/100 ml; buffiehead 3.8 g/100 ml), erythrocyte measurements, and electrophoretic analysis of plasma and serum. Variations between individuals of the same species and sex were slight but a possible difference between male and female erythrocyte numbers and packed cell volumes was evident in the canvasback and scaup samples.

Publication Year 1972
Title Some physiologic blood values of wild diving ducks
Authors R. M. Kocan
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Journal of Wildlife Diseases
Index ID 5220527
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Patuxent Wildlife Research Center