Photo: Spinus Nature Photography (Spinusnet) / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) — 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 American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. 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 rubripes
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Birb mood:
the park-pond classic
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Black Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The American Black Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA e Canada and ne USA.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 26.7 cm and a tail of around 7.4 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 4.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Black Duck?
The American Black Duck is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the American Black Duck live?
The American Black Duck is found across North America with a range covering NA e Canada and ne USA, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the American Black Duck belong to?
The American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the American Black Duck eat?
The American Black Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the American Black Duck migrate?
The American Black Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the American Black 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 American Black Duck make?
1 real field recording of the American Black 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 American Black Duck's range?
The American Black Duck has a mapped global range of about 4.1 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.
Explore more birds
More in Anatidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
More in Waterbirds
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Extinct
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Mallard vs American Black Duck: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Mallard from a American Black Duck — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.