Credit: Larry Bond
North American field guide
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Explore this bird
Identification
Field notes
48-63 cm (19-25") Common. Eastern North America. Marshes, bays, ponds, lakes, streams, salt marshes, estuaries. Blackish-brown overall with a contrasting paler head and face - similar female Mallard does not have such a contrasting head. Yellow or greenish (olive) bill; red legs and feet; violet-blue speculum (wing patch).
In flight, flashing white underwing linings contrast with dark body.
Song: quack like Mallard's.
Where it lives
Distribution maps
Source legend · original intervals
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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence
Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.
Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
American Black Duck
2 rulesRule 1 14 criteria · confidence 8
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States
Rule 2 14 criteria · confidence 2
- What colour were the LEGS or FEET ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Red, or pink · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Unknown
- What colour was the SIDE ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Yellow · Olive (yellowish-green) · Green · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Flattened · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Medium · Long · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- What colour were the EYES ?
- Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
- What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
- Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Duck or Goose-like
- WHERE was the bird seen ?
- Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States