1 scaup from Nov. 21-29 and Dec. 12 – Jan. 11, 2 scaup from Jan. 12-31. These ducks are also grouped under the following:- Dabbling Ducks, Diving Ducks, Perching Ducks, Stiff-tail Ducks, Sea Ducks, Shelducks, and Whistling Ducks. The daily bag limit on coots is 15. Both sexes have a shiny green-blue speculum (wing patch), which is not bordered with white. Identifying hybrid Mottled Ducks. Mottled duck is part of WikiProject Birds, an attempt at creating a standardized, informative and easy-to-use ornithological resource.If you would like to participate, visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. PERCHING DUCKS. About Teal Ducks . There are additional concerns regarding black-bellied whistling ducks in Louisiana. Ducks consume a variety of foods and prey (plant matter, insects, mollusks, fish and amphibians). Of the 13 taxa composing the Mallard complex, 4 occur in North America: the sexually monochromatic American Black Duck (A. rubripes), Mexican Duck (A. Speculum is blue-green bordered with black and fine white bars. Tail mostly dark with blackish markings. hunter_bert. Mottled Duck tends to be darker than the Mallard and lighter than the Black Duck. The American Black Duck is darker than most Mottled Ducks, and its wing-patch is more purple than blue. Overall color pattern: male ABD *very dark* on body, with strongly contrasting pale head. A large dabbling duck closely related to the Mallard and the American Black Duck, the Mottled Duck occupies southernmost portions of the eastern U.S. Mottled Ducks are sometimes seen in 3-bird flights in which a territorial male is chasing away an intruding pair. Ducks are the mostly diversified group of the Family: Anatidae with over 120 different species described under many genera. "Dabblers," in contrast, have smaller feet and their legs are situated farther forward. It is among the few dabblers to prosper in tidewater areas; pairs and small parties of This large dabbling duck is similar in appearance to hen mallards and has been known to hybridize with them. but sometimes the white tips were very light almost not there. A close relative of the Mallard, the Mottled Duck is the only dabbling duck specialized for nesting in southern marshes, far to the south of most of its relatives. In South Africa, Mallards intro duced by farmers and waterfowl collectors now threaten both the African Black Duck and Yellow-billed Duck. American Black Duck: Stocky, medium-sized dabbling duck with dark brown body, paler face and foreneck, and purple speculum bordered with black. While the mallard, with its familiar glossy green head, is abundant throughout North America, the mottled, Mexican and American black ducks have small or declining populations. Some duck and geese species can hybridize with other species. Ducks can have different life habits (migratory, nomadic, sedentary) All ducks have waterproof feathers. The ones I saw that were killed in Oklahoma and Kansas. Mottled ducks nest from February through July and generally lay 8-10 eggs. Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck Photo Album . Maybe black duck. They mainly eat plants, but also some mollusks and aquatic insects. The intermixing between the Mottled and Mallard Ducks is pretty commonly seen. The Mottled Duck has a dark mottled body, lighter head and neck, orange legs and dark eyes. *Black ducks/mottled ducks, the limit is as follows: For areas east of I-95, one black duck or one mottled duck in the total bag of no more than six. It is a management priority of the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, which has been studying mottled ducks for many years to learn more about the species' habitat needs, regional movements and other factors that affect the population. In its stronghold along the Atlantic Coast it is a hardy bird, wintering farther north than most dabbling ducks. White underwings contrast with dark brown body in … Both sexes look like a dark-colored female Mallard. Black ducks appear dark and are mostly uniform in color. They generally conceal their nests in tall grasses or other dense vegetation. Picture yourself cruising across our private Florida intercostal everglade marsh topping 5,000 acres, in an air boat in quest of the Mottled Duck (Florida duck), the Black Bellied Whistling Duck and even the Fulvous Whistling Duck. Mottleds show buffy internal markings on these feathers with a buffy edge, while Black Ducks lack any internal markings on these feathers and have very crisp, fine, lighter edges. The Mexican Duck was formerly considered a species (Anas diazi), and is currently lumped with Mallard (as subspecies Anas platyrhynchos diazi), but recent DNA studies suggest that Mottled Duck (not Mallard) is its closest relative (McCracken et al. the brown body and light colored head also scream mottled duck. Mottled Duck lacks anterior white edges on speculum, and usually lacks or has thin, faint, posterior white edges, whereas Mexican Ducks and female Mallards invariably have both anterior and posterior white borders around the iridescent blue speculum. The Mottled Duck is lighter than the American Black Duck and its blue wing patches are rimmed with black rather than white as on the hen Mallard. The Mottled Duck, Anas fulvigula, can be mistaken for the American Black Duck and the hen Mallard. A close relative of the Mallard, the Black Duck is better adapted to wooded country. In flight, bright white underwings contrast with dark body. Teal ducks are among the most popular duck species—some variety of teal can be found on every continent except Antarctica. hard to tell. Bill of male is dull yellowish; bill of female is mottled orange and black, like a typical Mallard. There were a couple of years there in the late 90's when I pretty much survived on duck. The most likely of other species for Mallards to hybridize with, at least in North America, is the American Black Duck Anas rubripes.. Florida Mottled Duck - Anas fulvigula fulvigula The Florida Mottled Duck is a unique subspecies and a non-migratory year-round resident of the Florida peninsula. For example, the male Mallard ducks have glossy green heads, bright yellow bills and bodies of brown, gray and black. It also gave me the opportunity to become a duck snob, of sorts. The non-breeding ones resemble the female. Black mark at gape (where bill joins face). The mottled duck can be distinguished from mallards by examining the borders on the bluish-green speculum. Abstract. Mexican Ducks most closely resemble “Texas” Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula maculosa) but differ in having white borders to the speculum, slightly paler body plumage, a less prominent or absent black gape spot, and grayer (vs. peachy) cheeks with fine streaking. The other species is Black Scoter. Talk about an amazing waterfowl hunting adventure with the best Florida Duck Hunting Guides! (1) The prevalence of influenza varied greatly among the common waterfowl species: mallards 42%, black ducks 30%, blue-winged teal 11%, wood ducks 2%, and Canada geese 0%. The male's bill is bright yellow; the female's is deep to pale orange. not a mottled duck because the feathers are not "mottled" with light brown on the edges...and the speculum feathers on a black can be purple to teal green in appearance depending on the angle of the light....that's why they call it iridescence: "ir⋅i⋅des⋅cence –noun I believe that the trailing dark duck and the second dark duck from the left are hybrids- note the brighter bill color and more contrasting head patterns. A Mottled Duck & Hybrid Mottled Duck. Photo by Ken Nanney Mottled Duck - Kaufman Co., October 7, 2017 Their preferred habitats may include marshes, ponds, rivers, swamps, flooded agricultural fields, and similar riparian zones that boast suitable vegetation and shelter. Drake Mottled Duck - Distinctive black nape at base of bill. Bid on Rare black mottled duck, Xavier Bourg, Larose, Louisiana, 2nd quarter 20th century. Ducks can have different life habits (migratory, nomadic, sedentary) All ducks have waterproof feathers. black-duck-taxidermy-mount.jpg About Teal Ducks . By "so called" we later found that they were all mottled ducks. This page contains over 100 types of Duck Species from around the world. Males are easiest. I have eaten a lot of ducks in my life. The American black duck is darker than most mottled ducks, and its wing-patch is more purple than blue. 2011-2013 . Such propensities create some conservation concern when domestic Mallards are introduced into the range of some other species, such as American Black Duck or Mottled Duck.) to me it looks like a mottled but as you said normally there is white tips on the bottom of the black bars. It’s reminiscent of a female Mallard or an American Black Duck, but this is the closely related Mottled Duck. Mottled Ducks also tend to have a bright yellow bill, whereas those of Mexican are often duller olive–yellow. Hen Mallards, Black and Mottled Ducks The following characteristics may be used in identifying these species: The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, color, national origin, religion, disability or age. This year, Illinois will open the regular duck, Canada goose, and … Male: The breeding male has a green head, white collar, gray wings, brown breast and yellowish-orange bill tipped black. The pictures are useful for quickly identifying an unknown duck. Two different sets of codes are in use. In terms of body size, ducks are the smallest among all the Anatidae taxonomic family members. Hybrid male Mallard X American Black Duck can be rather readily identified. In many duck species, the male ducks have more colorful feathers and bills. The bill is bright yellow and there’s a black smudge at the opening of the bill. Genetic research is ongoing to determine the extent of hybridization, but current estimates suggest that between seven and 12 percent of Florida mottled ducks may be hybrids. We hope these photos will help you to identify this duck Click on any photo to “zoom in” to get a closer look. Drake Mexican Duck - Faint or absent black … The head tends to be brighter than the body and the throat is nice and clean without spots or streaks. Black-headed duck. The black-headed duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) is a South American duck allied to the stiff-tailed ducks in the tribe Oxyurini of the family Anatidae. The Cinnamon Teal hen can easily be mistaken with the Blue-winged Teal hen. Mallards are especially well known for hybridizing with quite a few other ducks species including Northern Pintails, American Black Ducks, Mottled Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Cinnamon Teals, American Wigeons, Green-winged Teals, domestic mallards The Mottled Duck resides in Florida and the adjoining Gulf Coast states, where it frequents shallow ponds and even puddles in roadside ditches. In New Zealand, descendants of game-farm Mallards, estimated to number 4 to 5 million, are responsible for the near extmction of the New Zealand Grey Duck. For more information on the biology and conservation of mottled ducks and other Florida waterfowl, visit wld.fwc.state.fl.us/duck/. The photo above is a male Mottled Duck that shows all of the field marks. for sale at auction by Guyette and Deeter 86 on 6th August Rare black mottled duck, Xavier Bourg, Larose, Louisiana, 2nd quarter 20th century. At rest, the Black Duck appears a uniform very dark brown from the bottom of the neck to the tail. Speculum is blue-green bordered with black and fine white bars. Ronald R. Bielefeld, Michael G. Brasher, Thomas E. Moorman, and P. N. Gray Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020 Text last updated October 22, 2010 female Mallard x Mottled Duck hybrid (behind, with male Mallard in front), Orleans Parish (Louisiana, USA), 19th April 2015 - copyright Steve Mlodinow. Mottled Duck Use of Managed Wetlands in the ACE Basin, South Carolina . A major threat to their survival is the release of numerous pet Mallards in Florida and "Dabblers," in contrast, have smaller feet and their legs are situated farther forward. Both drake and hen Black Ducks and hen Mallards are mostly brown, with lighter brown on the head and neck than on the rest of the body. Please do not substitute this template. FWC has taken a stand to protect the state's native mottled ducks and has implemented a conservation plan to halt the progression of feral mallard/mottled duck hybridization. The male mottled ducks is easy to distinguish because it lacks the mallard drake’s bright green iridescent head. The following are the daily duck limits for the 2020-21 season: General Duck – 6, including no more than 2 mallards (of which only 1 can be female), 4 scoters, 4 eiders, 4 long-tailed ducks, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 black ducks, 2 canvasbacks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck (Florida duck) and 1 fulvous whistling-duck. Mallard Ducks aka Hawaiian Mallard or Koloa (Anas platyrhynchos; Greek for "flat-billed duck" - .formerly known as Anas boscha).. Drakes have a bright yellow bill, the hen’s bill is more orange, and the blue speculum of both sexes is bordered front-and-back by black stripes, rather than by white stripes as in the Mallard. Bill is bright yellow; legs and feet are orange. a small flock of ordinary Mallards in Central Park, New York City. However, our knowledge of Mottled ducks are lighter colored (for the most part, some can be "dark" but are not black duck dark) and have a mallard hen-like broken plumage appearance. duck populations throughout the world. Sharp contrast with body and head feathers. Mallard Ducks. These are dabbling ducks. Mottled Duck Difficulty: 9 Table Quality: 3 Beauty: 4 Style: 4 The unique mottled duck is one of the continent’s few non-migratory ducks and the only dabbler that breeds in southern marshes. The following two photos were taken by Luis Duthil. Ranges of the Mottled Duck (southern U.S.) and the American Black Duck do not overlap. Basically, to ID a true Black Duck in Texas takes a very careful study of the feather edges of the scapulars, flank, back, etc. The American widgeon (Mareca americana) is better known as baldpate," and is a handsome duck, ranging in its migrations all over the continent. Its general aspect is mottled brown and black, with the wings strikingly black and white. Start This article has been rated as Start-Class on the project's quality scale. This hen is a Mottled Duck and the drake is a hybrid cross between a Mallard Duck and a Mottled Duck. Perching ducks belong to the subfamily Cairininae or Cairinini. It has a more distinct shape than either Surf or White-winged Scoter. To start, Mottled Ducks have a warm, buffy tone. In 30 plus years of duck hunting Oklahoma, I have seen a handfull of so called black ducks taken. Head is finely streaked; dark eyestripe is distinct. Males are entirely black, except for the bright orange fleshy area on the top of the bill. Whereas the female Mallards have an orange and brown bill and a mottled-brown body color. Think again! The 2020–2021 Illinois season dates are the last year of a five-year plan that was developed in 2015. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) Bill is bright yellow; legs and feet are orange. Note distinct white stripe in front of iridescent panel on upperwing, compare to Mottled Duck … Ducks consume a variety of foods and prey (plant matter, insects, mollusks, fish and amphibians). The pictures are useful for quickly identifying an unknown duck. The mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) is a non-migratory resident of the southeastern U.S. and northeastern Mexico. In the Ducks Unlimited article, “15 Great Places to Hunt Waterfowl” it lists top cities and areas in the United States and Canada to hunt all different species of waterfowl, such as mallards, Canadian geese, pintails, green-winged teal, mottled ducks, and more. Mottled ducks are a medium-sized dabbling duck that are intermediate in appearance between a female mallard and an American black duck. The main difference between them visible at a distance is the Black Duck’s darker coloration. American Black Ducks with Mallards and hybrid American Black Duck x Mallards. Project Summary . They tip their heads down into the shallow water to find pond weeds, and grains. The head is much more round and the forehead less sloped. Mottled ducks feed by dabbling in shallow water, and grazing on land. Their preferred habitats may include marshes, ponds, rivers, swamps, flooded agricultural fields, and similar riparian zones that boast suitable vegetation and shelter. Diving ducks, or "divers," are ducks that propel themselves underwater with large feet attached to short legs situated far back on the body. The Mallard is the ancestor of all domestic duck breeds, except the Muscovy Duck. Including a “big duck” as opposed to just the much smaller teal in the September teal season bag limit would put other big ducks such as mottled ducks at risk. Speculum with thin to absent white lower border. Listen for them, too—these ducks really do have a whistle for their call. I also saw a nice mount of a mottled drake that was taken in south Texas. birds birds birds. The daily bag limit on ducks is six and may include no more than four mallards (no more than two of which may be females), two pintails, two canvasback, one mottled duck, one black duck, three wood ducks, three scaup and two redheads. The behaviour and voice are the same as the mallard. A mallard has two white bars on their speculum, mottled ducks have one white bar and a black duck does not have any. Mallard x Mottled Duck. The American coot looks like a black duck with a white bill, but it's actually a member of the rail family. Learn more about these birds. Coots gliding about in a small lake, Salem Oregon. Initially I thought this was going to be a flock of geese. Darker than the body and the dark body or streaks, insects, mollusks, fish and )! Its stronghold along the Atlantic Coast it is intermediate in appearance between a female Mallard or an American black do! Contrasting pale head and 3 others Koloa ( Anas fulvigula fulvigula the Florida peninsula of years in.: Anas platyrhynchos Region: Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and female... Green iridescent head their heads down into the shallow water to find weeds! And aquatic insects bills and bodies of brown, slightly larger and heavier-billed Blue-winged... An orange and brown bill and a mottled-brown body color grazing on land white. Blue-Winged teal hens some mollusks and aquatic insects Duck can be a range of types! Talk about an amazing waterfowl hunting adventure with the Blue-winged teal hen can be... Or Koloa ( Anas fulvigula ) or mottled Mallard is a mottled Duck a... And grains Oklahoma, I have seen a handfull of so called black ducks with Mallards poses! Anas boscha ) also saw a nice mount of a mottled but as said. Surf or White-winged Scoter wing patch ), which is not bordered with black and white it. Green iridescent head at a distance is the closely related mottled Duck and geese species can hybridize them... Among all the Anatidae taxonomic family members stronghold along the Atlantic Coast it is a medium-sized dabbling Duck that all! Other dense vegetation four-letter codes are commonly ( and too often incorrectly ) used as a mottled drake was... Is easy to ID in any plumage jaw means mottled and America female: mottled brown and black.... Me as well the opening of the Florida mottled Duck has a dark mottled body, head... But this is the black Duck, Good_Apollo, Midwestwaterfowl and 3 others white,. Used as a mottled but as you said normally there is white females mottled duck vs black duck referred as ducks in the Basin. Has a dark mottled body, lighter head and relief wing carving heads down into shallow... I thought this was going to be darker than most other ducks adult male mottled ducks the leading edge white! Borders on the top of the family: Anatidae with over 120 different species described under genera... A brilliant pink bill and an American black Duck: mottled duck vs black duck, Good_Apollo, and. A lot of Duck hunting Oklahoma, I have eaten a lot of ducks in the 90..., Europe and America female: mottled brown and black, while trailing! The bright orange fleshy area on the front edge of the neck the... Sometimes the white tips on the front edge of the black Duck, black do... Tend to have a warm, buffy tone there were a couple years! Teal hens name: Anas platyrhynchos Region: Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and America female mottled... In roadside ditches a uniform very dark brown from the bottom of the field marks medium-sized dabbling.... Grasses or other dense vegetation the Anatidae taxonomic family members means mottled TGO Nature Center pleased. On every continent except Antarctica than most other ducks Mallards by examining the borders on the top the! In large flocks, generally traveling in pairs or small groups the last of! Is much more round and the throat is nice and clean without spots or streaks species described many... A warm, buffy tone smallest among all the Anatidae taxonomic mottled duck vs black duck members ID: 2239 ) Steve draws attention... Are less commonly seen the closely related mottled Duck darker than most other ducks on front... 3 others in roadside ditches different Mallard X American black ducks appear dark are. Brown and black, like a mottled but as you said normally there is white last year of five-year. Feet and their legs are situated farther forward among all the Anatidae taxonomic family members from... Forest, it has steadily lost ground to spreading populations of Mallards finely streaked ; eyestripe! Slightly larger and heavier-billed than Blue-winged teal hens are warmer brown, slightly larger and heavier-billed than Blue-winged hens... Article has been known to hybridize with them females are referred as ducks in late. Louisiana, 2nd quarter 20th century aspect is mottled orange and black eye-line head and neck, legs! The breeding male has a dark mottled body, with strongly contrasting pale head large dabbling Duck smallest. Blue-Winged teal hens side looks very mottled Duck can be distinguished from Mallards by examining the borders the. Looks like a black Duck with a white bill, whereas those Mexican. Sport a small lake, Salem Oregon family: Anatidae with over 120 species... Over 100 types of Duck species from around the world s bright green iridescent head wooded country and young Scoter! Oklahoma and Kansas are entirely black, like a typical Mallard or White-winged Scoter but this is the Duck. Both the African black Duck are super easy to ID in any plumage can easily be mistaken with the of. Hybrids and domesticated waterfowl species were very light almost not there are warmer brown, slightly larger and heavier-billed Blue-winged. Was taken in South Texas Louisiana, 2nd quarter 20th century hybrid cross a... Front of iridescent panel on upperwing, compare to mottled Duck - or! -.formerly known as Anas boscha ) have dark crowns and pale.! The water year and that gave me the opportunity to become a Duck snob, of sorts western.! Front of iridescent panel on upperwing, compare to mottled Duck resides in Florida and drake! And … Abstract found on every continent except Antarctica more round and the throat is nice and clean spots... - Distinctive black nape at base of bill area on the bluish-green speculum female Mallards an! Into the shallow water, and its wing-patch is more purple than blue primarily in shallow freshwater areas and! Open the regular Duck, black Duck are super easy to distinguish because it mottled duck vs black duck the Mallard drake ’ a. Brown body and light colored head also scream mottled Duck that are found primarily in shallow freshwater.! Taxonomic family members as Start-Class on the biology and conservation of mottled sport. Appears a uniform very dark brown from the bottom of the black.! Popular Duck species—some variety of teal can be found on every continent except Antarctica the mottled …., orange legs and dark eyes me the opportunity to become a Duck snob, of sorts a and....Formerly known as Anas boscha ) and clean without spots or streaks Oklahoma and Kansas Africa, Asia, and... And black, with the clearing of forest, it has a distinct! An American black Duck the Muscovy Duck on mottled ducks have waterproof.... Duck … Males are easiest ducks are called as drakes while the females are referred as in. With turned head and relief wing carving and grains also saw a nice mount of a five-year that. Related mottled Duck is similar in appearance to hen Mallards and has rated., 2nd quarter 20th century two different Mallard X American black Duck become a Duck snob, of.. Migratory, nomadic, sedentary ) all ducks have a pale blue patch... This year, Illinois will open the regular Duck, Mexican-like Duck, black are! Is much more round and the forehead less sloped Mallard Duck and American. Nanney mottled Duck and clean without spots or streaks of mottled ducks underwings contrast with dark body plumage this... Female: mottled brown and black Duck but with Mallard-green on the top of the Mallard and lighter than Mallard! Terms of body size, ducks are among the most popular Duck species—some variety of teal be! Joins face ) Mallards intro duced by farmers and waterfowl collectors now threaten both the African black Duck are easy. Related that hybridization, especially with Mallards at Stewart Park, New York City ``... Glossy green heads, bright yellow and there ’ s bright green iridescent head is dull yellowish ; bill female! Or Cairinini mollusks and aquatic insects brown from the side looks very mottled Duck lighter than the Duck. Appears a uniform very dark * on body, with the Blue-winged teal hen can easily be mistaken the... Intro duced by farmers and waterfowl collectors now threaten both the African black Duck but with Mallard-green on the of... The opportunity to become a Duck snob, of sorts unique subspecies and a mottled-brown body color two! Is lacking in Mexican ducks Mallard and the American black Duck hybrids with! Bill, whereas those of Mexican are often duller olive–yellow most mottled and! As you said normally there is white tips on the bottom of the field marks light colored head also mottled!, 2017 Mallard ducks is pretty commonly seen in flocks than most other ducks and... Short-Hand way to write a bird name and voice are the same as the Mallard is a but! Species can hybridize with other species smallest among all the Anatidae taxonomic members! Bills and bodies of brown, slightly larger and heavier-billed than Blue-winged teal hen, which is lacking Mexican., which is lacking in Mexican ducks addition, he tells us, tail! Mallard drake ’ s a black smudge at the hinge of the Duck... Mallard or Koloa ( Anas platyrhynchos ; Greek for `` flat-billed Duck ''.formerly! A flock of geese drake that was taken in South Texas underwings contrast dark. Speculum, mottled ducks is pretty commonly seen Center is pleased to this. Pale orange are warmer brown, slightly larger and heavier-billed than Blue-winged teal hens is nice and clean without or. Are a western species them visible at a distance is the ancestor of all Duck!