American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Bird · The American Black Duck is generally considered an uncommon migrant and winter visitor in Iowa. While global populations have faced historical declines due to habitat loss and hybridization with mallards, current populations are largely monitored closely by wildlife agencies.
Summary
The American Black Duck is a dabbling duck native to eastern North America, occasionally visiting Iowa during migration and winter. It closely resembles a female mallard but features a much darker, chocolate-brown body plumage. These birds primarily forage in shallow wetlands, marshes, and agricultural fields for seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates.
Identification tips
Both sexes look very similar, featuring a dark brown body, a pale yellowish-green bill, and orange legs. The head is lighter brown with a dark crown and a distinct dark streak running through the eye. In flight, they display a brilliant purple-blue speculum wing patch bordered by narrow black lines, very similar to a mallard.
Habitat
In Iowa, they are most likely to be found in shallow freshwater marshes, flooded timber, river backwaters, and harvested cornfields during migration. They prefer secluded wetland habitats with plenty of emergent vegetation for cover.
Similar species
The female Mallard is the most similar species, but the American Black Duck is noticeably darker overall and lacks the distinct white tail and wing borders typically seen on female mallards. Hybrids between the two species also occur, which can complicate field identification.
Sources
Sightings on Iowa Wildlife
No sightings have been linked to this species yet.
Species text is a short compilation for this site, not an official DNR page.