Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Fulvous Whistling Duck/archive1

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The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was promoted by GrahamColm 00:05, 14 April 2014 (UTC) [1].[reply]

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Fulvous Whistling Duck (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs)

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Nominator(s): Jimfbleak - talk to me? 10:25, 28 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Let's go fulvous! I started expanding this article at the behest of Crisco 1492 so that an FP could be fitted in without losing other decent images. Once started, I realised that this is one of the world's most widespread ducks, breeding on four continents, and deserving of a better article. Although, predictably, much of the research has been in the US, where it is pretty marginal, I've tried to paint a global picture. Thanks to Crisco for proving tweaks and comments, despite being poorly, before I brought this to FAC. Jimfbleak - talk to me? 10:25, 28 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Comments from Aa77zz

The article is short but appears to be comprehensive.

  • Consider spelling out IUCN in the lead.
  • "In flight, the wings are black, with no white markings." From the photo it looks as if only the undersides are black. The wing coverts are brown.
  • upending or up-ending?
  • "This species is gregarious and is usually found in small groups, although substantial flocks can form at favoured sites, and it will mingle with other ducks." The phrase at the end of the sentence seems to be tacked on.
  • nests "over water"? What does this mean? In a tree?
  • When do the chicks lose their down?
  • " Rice is normally a small part of the diet, and in Cuban rice fields the plants taken were mainly weeds growing with the crop." Strange change of tense. Is this referring to some study?
  • "It has expanded its range in the southern US and into the West Indies." Was it previously not present in the WI?
  • Figure legend: "A flock at Pallikaranai wetland" Perhaps add "in India".

Aa77zz (talk) 16:40, 30 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I came across this old (1922) but surprisingly comprehensive chapter by John C. Phillips on the "Fulvous Tree Duck" here. Aa77zz (talk) 18:15, 30 March 2014 (UTC) (I'm not suggesting that it is a useful source for the article - I just found it interesting as a historical document.) Aa77zz (talk) 22:10, 30 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Support. Another excellent article from Jim. Aa77zz (talk) 07:41, 31 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for support and kind words Jimfbleak - talk to me? 09:56, 31 March 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Comments from Shyamal

  • Useful to include historic names like "Whistling Teal" simply because these are all things that confuse people.
Added several following the etymology Jimfbleak - talk to me? 08:43, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • The regional distribution for the S. Asian region in the map is a bit too expansive. It is far more scarce than suggested. Rasmussen & Anderton provide a far better and more conservative distribution for the region. (Will mail you the map image Jim)
Thanks, adjusted per Rasmussen Jimfbleak - talk to me? 08:31, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
You need to add Rasmussen & Anderton to the map sources on Commons. Aa77zz (talk) 08:47, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I'd put in in the edit summary for the new version, but added to sources now too Jimfbleak - talk to me? 09:40, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • Useful to link brood parasitism where other females lay in the nest, wish that article had a linkable section on intraspecific brood parasitism
Done Jimfbleak - talk to me? 08:31, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
I've expanded the bit in "Status" using Kear and your Turnbull ref. I can't access that Ostrich ref, and the abstract doesn't even mention this species. Despite the IUCN map, which is wrong in Southern Africa as well as India, I'm not convinced that the duck is even found in the Western Cape, which is largely farmland and semi-desert. The SASOL guide doesn't show it as present that far south and west either, and Cohen and Spottiswoode don't even include it in the checklist at the back of their SW Africa guide. And (OR) I didn't see it there, nor expect too. I can't really do anything on that without the text Jimfbleak - talk to me? 09:25, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
OK, seen the Ostrich text and added a sentence to "Status". Jimfbleak - talk to me? 11:44, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • Added material on hybridization
And thanks for hybrids Jimfbleak - talk to me? 14:12, 2 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • added some bits on call, behaviour
  • added to taxonomic history - Dendrocygna fulva
  • added India specific breeding period
  • added links to online content
Thanks for all the above, especially the Gmelin bit. I never came across a whisper of that in my searches Jimfbleak - talk to me? 05:44, 3 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • image caption "In flight, showing black-and-white tail coverts" - are there any black tail coverts? All my sources mention white upper tail coverts with the tail being black.
Amended Jimfbleak - talk to me? 05:44, 3 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Support Shyamal (talk) 07:52, 3 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks, not only for the review and support, but also for your help with sourcing and your additions Jimfbleak - talk to me? 09:00, 3 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Like other members of its ancient genus - hmm, the way the word is used, it would be best to link to something specific like Dendrocygna rather than genus. However, that would be a bit easter-eggish. Other problem is Dendrocygna looks polyphyletic so I suspect that needs an overhaul. I'd be tempted to use the word "lineage" and leave unlinked.
I'd add a footnote as to what Anas fulva was/is.
Why don't the initials (abbreviated first names) of Gmelin and Meuschen have periods?
Hmm, sticking the male's weight without the female's looks odd where it is - I might move it down to where distinctions between the sexes are discussed.
works for me. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 13:43, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Otherwise looking ok. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 02:47, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for review Jimfbleak - talk to me? 09:27, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • Support based partly on supports & edits after comments by more specialist editors. A handsome bird, and anything able to invade Florida since WW2 deserves support! Only two points:
"Old and regional names include Large Whistling Teal,[5] Brown Tree Duck, Mexican Duck, Squealer and Spanish Cavalier.[14]" - don't some of these deserve redirects, & hence bolding? They could stay where they are in the text though.
There are photos of birds in London and Stuttgart, well outside the normal range given. Are these summer visitors or human-aided releases etc? Johnbod (talk) 15:43, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Hmm, never seen that. I must say I often bold redirects outside the lead where appropriate, say if the term only relates to a particular section. But ok. Johnbod (talk) 15:53, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
  • As for range: I agree, it's odd how we don't mention if vagrants reach Europe, or if the birds may go to Europe outside the breeding season in large numbers. There's a mention of the US there, but I don't see Europe. — Crisco 1492 (talk) 15:46, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Yes, and the African population is only said to move southwards, though Morocco is mentioned. Johnbod (talk) 15:53, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
@Johnbod, thanks for support. With regard to the two points made
  • FWIW, I've normally done what Crisco says, bolding the main names in the lead, and listing obsolete or regional lower down unbolded
  • Both the European images are in collections, there are no natural European records. I'll tweak the captions to make that clear (and that's why those images are so good)
Jimfbleak - talk to me? 16:36, 12 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks
The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.
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