Photo: Peter Wallack / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mottled Duck
Anas fulvigula
Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 843 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 Anas
- Species fulvigula
Quick facts
- Weight
- 843 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the park-pond classic
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mottled Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Mottled Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA sc, se.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 843 g, with a wing length of about 24.5 cm and a tail of around 8.5 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 1.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mottled Duck?
The Mottled Duck is a large bird that weighs around 843 g.
Where does the Mottled Duck live?
The Mottled Duck is found across North America with a range covering NA sc, se, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Mottled Duck belong to?
The Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Mottled Duck eat?
The Mottled Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Mottled Duck migrate?
The Mottled Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Mottled 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 Mottled Duck make?
1 real field recording of the Mottled Duck — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mottled Duck's range?
The Mottled Duck has a mapped global range of about 1.5 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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