Black Duck

Anas rubripes

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Brief #

Dark brown plumage, males have yellow bill, females dull green.

Synonyms #

  • Ánade sombrío (Spanish)
  • Pato sombrío (Galician)

Red List Status #

The Black Duck is unlikely to become extinct in the near future.
Find out more about IUCN's Red List program here

Description #

Male and female are generally similar in appearance, but the male's bill is yellow while the female's is dull green with dark marks on the upper mandible. The head is brown, but is slightly lighter in tone than the darker brown body. The cheeks and throat are streaked brown, with a dark streak going through the crown and dark eye. The speculum feathers are iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins. The fleshy orange feet of the duck have dark webbing. Juveniles resemble adult females, but have broken narrow pale edges of underpart feathers, which give a slightly streaked rather than scalloped appearance, and the overall appearance is browner rather than uniformly blackish. Juvenile males have brownish-orange feet while juvenile females have brownish feet and a dusky greyish-green bill.

Measurements #

Length: 54 - 59 cm
Wingspan: 88 - 95 cm
Weight: 0.72 - 1.64 kg