American Black Duck: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Ducks, Geese and Swans · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. It looks about the size of a mallard, but on average it is the heaviest duck in its genus. In one sample, males averaged 1.4 kg.
2. Males and females look alike. To tell them apart, check the bill: yellow for the male, dull green with dark marks for the female.
3. Its scientific name, rubripes, is made of two Latin words: ruber, meaning "red", and pes, meaning "foot".
4. For their first 12 days, the ducklings feed mostly on small water creatures like snails, beetles and insect larvae. Then they switch to seeds.
5. One idea: its dark feathers gave it an edge in shady forest pools, while the paler mallard did better on bright, open prairie lakes.

The quiz

1. What is special about the black duck's weight within its genus, Anas?

• It is the lightest
• It has the highest average weight (correct)
• It weighs twice as much as the mallard
• It is the smallest by length

It has the highest average body mass in its genus, though it is about the size of a mallard.

2. How can you tell a male black duck from a female?

• The male has a red crest
• The female is almost white
• The male has a long pointed tail
• The male's bill is yellow, the female's dull green (correct)

The two look alike, but the male's bill is yellow and the female's is dull green.

3. What does the scientific name rubripes mean?

• Red foot (correct)
• Dark water
• Black wing
• Dusky bill

It comes from the Latin ruber, red, and pes, foot.

4. What do black duck ducklings mostly eat in their first 12 days?

• Seeds
• Small fish
• Small water creatures like snails and insect larvae (correct)
• Grass on land

They eat mostly water invertebrates for 12 days, then shift to seeds.

5. According to one idea, where did the black duck's dark plumage give it an advantage?

• On bright, open prairie lakes
• In shady forest pools (correct)
• On open sea ice
• On sunny sandy beaches

Its dark feathers were thought to help in shaded forest pools; open prairie lakes suited the paler mallard.

More about the American Black Duck

Same week

All lessons

Nature documentaries