At first glance, it looks dark and plain, but a closer look reveals a rich, velvety mix of deep brown and black, with lighter edges to the feathers, giving its body a softly patterned look rather than a flat color. Its head and neck are a bit paler, with a warm, slightly olive tone and a clean dark line through the eye. The bill is usually yellowish to olive, and the legs are a strong orange. In flight, the bird shows a purple-blue patch on the wing framed by black borders, lacking the bright white edges that Mallards show. That lack of white, combined with the overall darker body, is one of the best ways to tell an American black duck from its more familiar cousin.
This duck is strongly tied to wetlands along the eastern side of North America. It breeds mainly in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, using a wide range of watery habitats: forested ponds, beaver wetlands, bogs, salt marshes, and quiet backwaters of rivers and lakes. During migration and winter, it becomes especially fond of coastal areas—brackish marshes, tidal creeks, sheltered bays, and mudflats—where it can feed in both fresh and salty water. It’s a flexible feeder, dabbling on the surface or tipping up with its tail in the air to reach seeds, tubers, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small crustaceans. In coastal areas, it often probes in tidal shallows for mussels, clams, and small crabs.
Behaviorally, the American black duck looks and acts a lot like a wild Mallard with the color turned down. It dabbles, preens, rests in loose flocks, and flies with strong, direct wingbeats. On quiet ponds, pairs or small groups may seem calm and tame, but in heavily hunted areas, these ducks can become extremely wary, lifting off at the slightest sign of danger.
Distribution
Bahamas
Bermuda
Canada
Denmark
Guadeloupe
Ireland
Martinique
Mexico
Morocco
Norway
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Saint Pierre
Spain
Sweden
Turks & Caicos
United Kingdom
United StatesAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
