American Black Duck vs Eurasian Wigeon
Anas rubripes compared with Mareca penelope
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Black Duck | Eurasian Wigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas rubripes | Mareca penelope |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.4 cm (21.0 in) | 50.1 cm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 1211.25 g (42.73 oz) | 783.75 g (27.65 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-17 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Black Duck only
None
Eurasian Wigeon only
None
American Black Duck
Freshwater and brackish wetlands in eastern North America from Atlantic Canada south along the coast to Georgia. Breeds in northern bogs and wetlands. Winters on coastal marshes, estuaries, and freshwater lakes.
Eurasian Wigeon
Breeds on boreal and subarctic lakes and bogs across Eurasia from Iceland east to Siberia. Winters in huge numbers on estuaries, lakes, and coastal grasslands in western Europe and South and Southeast Asia.
Song & Call Comparison
American Black Duck
Female produces a loud, deep quacking series; male gives a low, raspy grunt. Voice is deeper and huskier than a Mallard; pairs call powerfully across northeastern North American wetlands.
Eurasian Wigeon
Male produces a clear, ringing whee-oo whistle; female gives a low, guttural purr. The male's bright, piping call is the classic sound of European winter estuaries and flocks.
Conservation Status
American Black Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
American Black Duck
Sooty dark brown body; head and neck paler buff with dark streaking. Iridescent purple speculum without white border. Males have yellow-green bill; females olive with orange blotches. Silvery underwings in …
Eurasian Wigeon
Males have chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze; pink-buff breast; gray flanks; white belly. White forewing patch conspicuous in flight. Females rufous-brown. Compact with small bill. Dimorphic.
About These Birds
American Black Duck
A large dark brown dabbling duck closely resembling a very dark female Mallard, with purple speculum, yellowish-olive bill in males, and orange legs. Common in eastern North America. Hybridizes freely with Mallard; pure populations declining in the interior.
Eurasian Wigeon
A medium-sized compact duck. Males have a chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze, pink breast, grey body, and white wing patch. Highly migratory; one of Europe's most abundant wintering ducks. Grazes on short grass and aquatic vegetation.