American Black Duck vs Ruddy Duck

Anas rubripes comparé à Oxyura jamaicensis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut American Black Duck Ruddy Duck
Nom scientifique Anas rubripes Oxyura jamaicensis
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 53,4 cm (21.0 in) 27,9 cm (11.0 in)
Poids 1211,25 g (42.73 oz) 586,6666666666666 g (20.69 oz)
Régime alimentaire -- Dives for aquatic plant seeds, roots, and invertebrates in freshwater marshes. Uses stiff tail as …
Taille de la couvée 1-17 5-15
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

American Black Duck only

Ruddy Duck only

Aucun(e)

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.

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.

Ruddy Duck

Chant

Male produces a mechanical, drumming bok-bok-bok staccato beat; female gives a harsh, nasal quack. The male's rapid drum-roll call on the bill during display is startlingly loud and distinctive.

Geographic Range & Migration

American Black Duck

Ruddy Duck

Breeds across interior North America from western Canada south to Mexico. Winters on coasts and inland waters south to northern South America.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

American Black Duck

Least Concern

Ruddy Duck

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 …

Ruddy Duck

Plumage

Breeding male has vivid rufous-chestnut body, black crown, white cheeks, and bright sky-blue bill; stiff tail often cocked upright. Female is dull brown with pale cheek crossed by single dark …

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.

Ruddy Duck

A compact stiff-tailed diving duck (~590 g) in family Anatidae, males chestnut-bodied with a sky-blue bill in breeding season. Native to North and South America; an introduced invasive in Europe threatening the White-headed Duck through hybridization. Breeds on freshwater marshes; dives for aquatic plants and invertebrates. Least Concern in native range.

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