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
Characteristics
- Length: 50-60cm
- Weight: 600-800g
- Wingspan: 80-90cm
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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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.
Observations by Park and Season
| Location | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parc Angrignon | x | - | - | - |
| Parc Mont Saint-Bruno | - | x | - | - |
| Parc Île-de-la-Visitation | x | - | - | - |
"-" indicates no observation. It may not necessarily mean though that the species is absent from the park during that season.