Photo: Dr. Raju Kasambe / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of India Birds of Kenya Birds of Malaysia Birds of Thailand Birds of Tanzania Birds of South Africa Birds of England Birds of Merseyside

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of India Ducks, Geese & Swans of Kenya Ducks, Geese & Swans of Malaysia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Thailand Ducks, Geese & Swans of Tanzania Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Africa Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 2.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Sarkidiornis
Species melanotos

Where it lives

Africa south of the Sahara and southern, southeastern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 2.6 kg
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Knob-billed Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Knob-billed Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Africa and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AF, OR Africa s of the Sahara and s, se Asia.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.6 kg, with a wing length of about 32.1 cm and a tail of around 11.3 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 18.7 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Knob-billed Duck — Flight call

Recorded by Dries Van de Loock Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Knob-billed Duck — Call

Recorded by vir joshi Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

All Knob-billed Duck sounds, grouped by type →

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Knob-billed Duck?

The Knob-billed Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 2.6 kg.

Where does the Knob-billed Duck live?

The Knob-billed Duck is found across Africa and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AF, OR Africa s of the Sahara and s, se Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Knob-billed Duck belong to?

The Knob-billed Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Knob-billed Duck eat?

The Knob-billed Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Knob-billed Duck migrate?

The Knob-billed Duck is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Knob-billed 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 Knob-billed Duck make?

2 real field recordings of the Knob-billed Duck — including its call and flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Knob-billed Duck's range?

The Knob-billed Duck has a mapped global range of about 18.7 million km².