Photo: Dominic Sherony / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-backed Duck
Thalassornis leuconotus
White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Africa.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 708 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Thalassornis
- Species leuconotus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 708 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-backed Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The White-backed Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 708 g, with a wing length of about 16.7 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 10 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-backed Duck?
The White-backed Duck is a large bird that weighs around 708 g.
Where does the White-backed Duck live?
The White-backed Duck is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the White-backed Duck belong to?
The White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the White-backed Duck eat?
The White-backed Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the White-backed Duck migrate?
The White-backed Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-backed Duck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-backed Duck make?
1 real field recording of the White-backed Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-backed Duck's range?
The White-backed Duck has a mapped global range of about 10 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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