Brief SummaryRead full entry At close range, the American Black
Duck may be identified by its dark color, dull-yellow bill, and
white under-wing patches. However, due to its large size (20-25
inches) and familiar oval-shaped body, the American Black Duck
is often mistaken at a distance for the more ubiquitous Mallard
(Anas platyrhynchos). Separating American Black Ducks from the
Mallards has become increasingly difficult as Mallards have
begun to interbreed with this species, producing hybrids with
characteristics intermediate to those of the two parent species.
Male and female pure-bred American Black Ducks are similar to
one another in all seasons. The American Black Duck breeds
across northeastern North America from the eastern edge of the
Great Plains east to the Atlantic coast and from the Hudson Bay
south to the Mid-Atlantic region. Northern populations migrate
south in winter, when they may be found in the southeast and
along the Ohio River Valley. Populations in the northeastern
United States and in t