Mottled Duck vs African Black Duck
Anas fulvigula compared with Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mottled Duck | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas fulvigula | Anas sparsa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 48.9 cm (19.3 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 1027.5 g (36.24 oz) | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for freshwater fish and aquatic invertebrates; saw-edged bill grips prey; diet strongly fish-dominated year-round. | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … |
| Clutch Size | 9-13 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Mottled Duck
Coastal freshwater and brackish marshes, wet prairies, and gulf coast wetlands in Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico coast to Texas. Non-migratory year-round resident. Threatened by Mallard hybridization.
African Black Duck
Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.
Song & Call Comparison
Mottled Duck
Female gives a loud, Mallard-like quacking series; male produces a soft, nasal note. Alarm call is a rapid, emphatic quacking burst; flocks generate a loud chorus on Gulf Coast marshes.
African Black Duck
Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mottled Duck
Breeds across sub-Arctic and boreal regions of Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Conservation Status
Mottled Duck
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Mottled Duck
Rich mottled brown plumage with buff-edged feathers and pale buff head and throat. Dark crown and eye stripe. Iridescent blue speculum with white border. Yellow-orange bill. Sexes similar. Resembles non-breeding …
African Black Duck
Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …
About These Birds
Mottled Duck
A medium-sized buff-brown dabbling duck closely related to the Mallard, with a plain brown body, yellow bill, and blue speculum. Non-migratory; restricted to coastal marshes of Florida and the Gulf Coast. Threatened by hybridization with introduced Mallards in Florida.
African Black Duck
A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.