American Black Duck vs West Indian Whistling-duck
Anas rubripes compared with Dendrocygna arborea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Black Duck | West Indian Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas rubripes | Dendrocygna arborea |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.4 cm (21.0 in) | 51.3 cm (20.2 in) |
| Weight | 1211.25 g (42.73 oz) | 1030.0 g (36.33 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-17 | 4-16 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Black Duck only
None
West Indian Whistling-duck 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.
West Indian Whistling-duck
Freshwater lakes, mangrove swamps, palm savannas, and forested wetlands in the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Nests in palm crowns and hollow trees. Highly dependent on Caribbean wet forests and freshwater lagoons.
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.
West Indian Whistling-duck
A loud, 3-syllable whistle 'whee-whee-whee'. The NT conservation status reflects population pressures. Less commonly heard than its more abundant whistling-duck relatives.
Conservation Status
American Black Duck
West Indian Whistling-duck
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 …
West Indian Whistling-duck
Dark brown upperparts; head and neck dark with pale sides. Flanks black with bold white spots. Breast dark brown; belly blackish with white flank streaks. Long dark legs. Largest Dendrocygna. …
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.
West Indian Whistling-duck
A large dark whistling-duck with brown and black plumage, a pale face, and chestnut underparts with dark streaks. Endemic to the Caribbean. The largest native duck in the West Indies; listed as Vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss. Roosts communally in palms and forest trees.