Hartlaub’s Duck

Pteronetta hartlaubii

Hartlaub's Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Africa.

The Hartlaub’s Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 790 g. 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 Pteronetta
Species hartlaubii

Where it lives

Sierra Leone to southwestern Uganda and northern Angola

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 790 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Pink-headed Duck

Rhodonessa caryophyllacea

Least Concern the park-pond classic

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Hartlaub’s Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

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

Migration

The Hartlaub’s Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Hartlaub’s Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF Sierra Leone to sw Uganda and n Angola.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 790 g, with a wing length of about 26.7 cm and a tail of around 9.5 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 4.3 million km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Hartlaub’s Duck?

The Hartlaub’s Duck is a large bird that weighs around 790 g.

Where does the Hartlaub’s Duck live?

The Hartlaub’s Duck is found across Africa with a range covering AF Sierra Leone to sw Uganda and n Angola, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Hartlaub’s Duck belong to?

The Hartlaub’s Duck (Pteronetta hartlaubii) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Hartlaub’s Duck eat?

The Hartlaub’s Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Hartlaub’s Duck migrate?

The Hartlaub’s Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Hartlaub’s 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.

How large is the Hartlaub’s Duck's range?

The Hartlaub’s Duck has a mapped global range of about 4.3 million km².