Abstract

Although the gadwall Anas strepera and red-crested pochard Netta ruffina Netta are reclassified back to the same family origin, most of their characters such as morphology, anatomy, and physiology were different. A total of twenty birds of the gadwall and red-crested pochard were included in this study. These birds were hunted in the south of Iraq marshes by the use of catch drag. The results revealed cardinal differences in the blood picture between A. strepera and N. ruffina Netta summarized in increase red blood cell count, white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, packed cell volume and differential white blood cell count in N. ruffina Netta compared to A. strepera. In addition, this study showed no differences in the karyotype of the two species.

Key words: Gadwall, red crested pochard, Anas strepera, Netta ruffina Netta dabbling ducks, south Iraq marshes.