Abstract
Abstract Background The study of haematological and biochemical parameters is important to evaluate the physiological status in wild birds. In order to carry out ecophysiological or conservation studies, it is important to know the baseline physiological parameters and how these vary with age, sex and life history events. Results Haematological parameters including red blood corpuscles (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), haematocrit, haemoglobin and related RBC indices and plasma and biochemical parameters including glucose, lipid profile and liver function tests, kidney function tests and electrolyte concentration reference values were determined in two long-distance migratory species from the family Anatidae, the northern shoveler (Anas clypeata) and Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), during migration season. Data revealed significant inter-species differences for most blood and biochemical parameters. These differences are likely due to different feeding habit, diet and species-specific migration behaviour rather than phylogenetic reasons or different environmental condition as they winter at the same place (Máñez et al., Conservation Monitoring in Freshwater Habitats, 2010). Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first study that performs a comparative blood analysis on northern shoveler and Eurasian teal during their overwintering period in Manzala Lake, Egypt. Due to the lack of haematological studies on both species during migration, the current results represent a contribution to understanding the physiological adaptations that facilitate the use of different habitats in these species and for establishing reference physiological values and for comparison within the same species, or even with other species in different periods with regard to their use in future conservation efforts or other studies.