American black duck

American black duck

It is a medium-sized dabbling duck with dark brown body, foreneck, paler face and purple speculum bordered with black. Head is finely speckled; dark eye line is distinct. White underwings contrast with dark brown body in flight. The adult male and female has a yellow bill, lighter head and neck, a dark body, orange legs and dark eyes. The breeding habitat of this black duck is ponds, rivers, marshes and aquatic environments which also include Great Lakes. This black duck interbreed mostly and regularly with Mallard ducks, both are related closely. They are traveling and especially spent many winter in the east-central United States.

Interesting facts

The American Black Duck is not black, but only visible so at a distance; it was formerly recognized as the "Dusky Duck." .They return to the same marshland each fall, and will starve rather than travel farther south if those marshes are frozen.