The falcated duck is a migratory Asian species with threatened survival status. Watching these beautiful birds at WWT Slimbridge, it was easy to see why they have been hunted by humans over the ages. Those stripy feathers over the tail have been particularly prized.

With so many people now on the planet, attitudes to such birds must rapidly change, or they will be lost forever. Places like Slimbridge provide a reminder of what is in danger of being lost.

Although the green head and neck with brown crown look a bit like a mallard, these ducks are actually closely related to the European wigeon, with which they have been known to interbreed.