American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
This species is a large dabbling duck, somehow resembling the female Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in coloration but having darker plumage. Males and females are similar in appearance. It is a native species of North America, usually found in coastal marshlands and freshwater habitats.
| 🇫🇷 | Canard noir |
| 🇩🇪 | Dunkelente |
| 🇲🇽 | Ánade sombrío |
| Taxonomy | |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
How to Identify
The similarity with Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) makes it difficult to identify this species. A distinctive mark is the lack of a white line between the wing’s blue posterior part and the brown anterior part. It is also less common than Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) around Montreal.
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Characteristics
| Length | 54-59cm |
| Weight | 720-1640g |
| Wingspan | 88-95cm |
| Clutch Size | 6-14 eggs |
| Incubation | 25-26 days |
| Fledging | 42-49 days |
| Sexual Maturity | 1 year |
Resources
Where and When to Spot
The only time I was sure about the identification of this species was with the couple I observed in a pond in the National Park Mont Saint Bruno.
Observation Records by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Angrignon | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Mont Saint-Bruno | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Île-de-la-Visitation | x | - | - | - |
"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.