Black ducks are dark, dusky brown, but appear black from a distance. Their head is pale brown with a dark streak through the eyes. (U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
The American black duck is a dusky brown dabbling duck that appears black from a distance. It lives year-round along the quiet, isolated tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.
Appearance:
Dark, dusky brown plumage that appears black from a distance
Pale brown head
Black streak through the eyes
Yellow bill
Purplish wing patches (called specula) and white wing linings
Reddish or orange legs and feet
Males and females look alike, except females have a mottled bill
Males resemble female mallards
Grows to about 25 inches with a wingspan of 36 inches
Habitat:
Found mostly in fresh and brackish wetlands along the Bay and its rivers
Prefers quiet, forested areas with farm fields nearby
Generally stays away from heavily populated areas
Range:
Lives in the Bay region throughout the year
Less common in summer
Feeding:
Eats seeds, bay grasses, aquatic plants and small invertebrates
Feeds at the water’s surface or by “tipping up” its tail and submerging its head to reach food underwater
Will also eat grains, nuts and corn from farm fields
Predators:
Humans are black ducks’ greatest predator
Other predators may include snakes, skunks, crows, raccoons and opossums
Flight:
Takes off by flying straight up from the water
Can be identified in flight by its black body, contrasting white wing linings and purple wing patch
Voice:
Sounds similar to a mallard
Males make a kwek-kwek sound
Females quack
American Black Duck courtesy of Pamela C. Rasmussen/Avian Vocalizations Center
Reproduction and Life Cycle:
Starts forming pairs in autumn
Begins nesting in mid-March in dense, secluded marshes and forested wetlands. In the Chesapeake region, most black duck nests are located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and near the Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James rivers.
Nests are made in a tree cavity or a depression on the ground.
The female lays 6-12 buff green eggs that hatch in 28 days. The male leaves the female about two weeks after she lays her eggs. She raises their young on her own.
After hatching, the female leads her young to a nearby marsh. Ducklings feed on grasses, insect larvae and other small invertebrates.
Young are ready to fly about two months after hatching
Other Facts:
Very closely related to mallards. It is not uncommon for mallards and black ducks to breed, which produces mallard/black duck hybrids that have physical characteristics of both ducks.
More than 200,000 black ducks used to winter in the Chesapeake region. Today, fewer than 50,000 visit the region each winter. Scientists believe this is due to loss of food and habitat, as well as heavy hunting pressure and interbreeding with mallards.
Can be confused with female mallards. You can identify a black duck by its darker overall coloring. Black ducks are also significantly less common than mallards.
