Its bill is olive-yellow to orange and its wings have a purplish-blue patch on the upperside and are white on the underside. It is seen from the northern boundaries of Quebec and around James Bay to the northern borders of Ontario and Manitoba. In flight shows dark bluish-purple secondaries bordered by black. But take a second look through a group of brown ducks to notice the dark chocolate-brown flanks, pale grayish face, and olive-yellow bill of an American Black Duck. This waterfowl was almost extirpated because of overhunting and hybridizing with the Mallard. It is 19-22 inches in length. The American Black Duck eats seeds and vegetative parts of aquatic plants and crop plants. Similar looking birds to American Black Duck: Mallard Female (Northern), Mallard Nonbreeding male and female (Northern), Mottled Duck Male, Mottled Duck Female, Gadwall Female, Surf Scoter Female, Black Scoter Female American Black Duck: Stocky, medium-sized dabbling duck with dark brown body, paler face and foreneck, and purple speculum bordered with black. They have rounded heads, thick bills, and bulky bodies. Black Duck populations have stabilized since then, although they are still below the objectives set by the North American … This sleek duck of northeastern forest lakes and coastal marshes has suffered a long, persistent decline for over a century—largely owing to over-hunting as well as hybridization with its close relative, the Mallard, which has spread into the Northeast following the clearing of forest, and with the decline of the American Black Duck has replaced it in many locations. The American black duck is not really black, it is more of a dusky brown, In fact it is sometimes called the dusky duck. Also, the two species hybridize on occasion. Names (29) Species names in all available languages. The American Black Duck hides in plain sight in shallow wetlands of eastern North America. Its bill is olive-yellow to orange and its wings have a purplish-blue patch and are white on the underside. A close relative of the Mallard, the Black Duck is better adapted to wooded country. The head is slightly lighter brown than the dark brown body, and the speculum is iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins. These are dabbling ducks that tip up instead of dive when they forage. Head is finely streaked; dark eyestripe is distinct. Given that just yesterday I was out scouting for the opening day of our November duck season and saw some 20+ black ducks I felt inclined to talk about the change in regulation around them. Additional Images: Black duck swimming. In flight, the underwings are bright white. LC Least Concern. They eat aquatic plants, invertebrates, and occasionally small fish in shallow water. The Black Duck is dusky brown with a paler head. See more ideas about duck, duck hunting, waterfowl. They prefer protected bodies of water such as saltmarshes and ponds, and frequently mix with other species of ducks, especially Mallards. Females tend to be slightly paler than males, with duller olive bills. Anas rubripes Black ducks and mallards breed together and compete for resources where their populations overlap. American black ducks are similar to mallards in size, and resemble the female mallard in coloration, though the black duck's plumage is darker. The American Black Duck Anas rubripes is a large dabbling duck that is commonly found throughout much of eastern North America. Publish date: 12/04/2019. The American Black Duck hides in plain sight in shallow wetlands of eastern North America. In its stronghold along the Atlantic Coast it is a hardy bird, … Males and females look alike, although the female is a little lighter. They dabble at the water's surface and tip-up at edges of wetlands to feed on aquatic plants and invertebrates. In fact, it is sometimes called the dusky duck! Language Common name; Asturleonese: Coríu escuru: Catalan: Ànec negrós: Croatian: Američka crna patka: Czech: Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family:Anatidae). Can gather in large flocks in saltmarshes and other tidal areas. It is 19-22 inches in length. Some of these birds may be escaped pets, but others are known to be wild ducks: for instance, one female banded in New Brunswick, Canada, turned up later in France. American Black Ducks are large ducks with a profile nearly identical to Mallards. During migration and winter, they rest and forage in protected ponds, marshes, and bays. Nearly identical to Mallard in size and shape. 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