American Black Duck vs Gadwall

Anas rubripes comparé à Mareca strepera

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut American Black Duck Gadwall
Nom scientifique Anas rubripes Mareca strepera
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 53,4 cm (21.0 in) 50,3 cm (19.8 in)
Poids 1211,25 g (42.73 oz) 857,5 g (30.25 oz)
Régime alimentaire -- --
Taille de la couvée 1-17 5-15
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

American Black Duck only

Gadwall only

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.

Gadwall

Freshwater lakes, reservoirs, marshes, and rivers with emergent vegetation across Eurasia and North America. Winters on large open wetlands and coastal estuaries. Range and population increasing in Europe.

Song & Call Comparison

American Black Duck

Chant

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.

Gadwall

Chant

Male utters a soft, nasal nheck note; female produces a series of descending, quacking notes. Both sexes are relatively quiet; female's quacking is softer and less strident than a Mallard.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

American Black Duck

Least Concern

Gadwall

How to Tell Them Apart

American Black Duck

Plumage

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 …

Gadwall

Plumage

Males have finely vermiculated gray-brown plumage with black rump and undertail. White speculum patch diagnostic in flight. Females mottled brown like Mallard but smaller and with orange-sided bill. Subtle but …

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.

Gadwall

A medium-sized dabbling duck. Males appear grey-brown but are intricately patterned with fine grey vermiculations, black rump, and white speculum. Females resemble Mallard but with orange-sided bill. Widespread across Eurasia and North America. Feeds by dabbling and grazing.

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