American Black Duck

Physical Features

The American Black Duck is one of the largest Dabbling Ducks and has a long-body, short-tail and a long bill that on average is 23” in length. Both males and females have blackish brown bodies and paler heads and necks. Their crowns and eye-strips are dark and the easiest way to differentiate them from Mottled Ducks and Mallards are the thin, buffy margins in their tails. The males have a yellow to olive colored bill while the females have an olive colored bill.

Habitat

They mostly live in fresh and salt-water marshes or along coastal areas. They can be found from northeastern Canada to Georgia and as far east as the Dakotas and Oklahoma.

Diet

A wide variety of vegetation constitutes this species diet. They feed on roots, seeds, leaves and even corn when it's available. Bag Limits When it comes to ducks these are a little more restricted. Other species have higher bag limits but they still can be hunted consistently. Basically, if you get your chance to bag one, don't hesitate, they're not as easy to come by compared to more common species.

Meat

Because of their diet and habitat, they tend to taste a bit fishy. If you're not a fan of the fishy flavor, soak the meat in a marinade before cooking.

Behavior

They have a low pitched-hoarse voice and the females will sound a low gwaak and rapid gegege while the males will sound a slow-drawn out rhaeb and whistled tseep. Like other Dabbling Ducks they can take off straight from the water. Their breeding period is between March and May and will produce 7-17 eggs. The female will find a place to nest in a clump of grass or in a fork in a tree or under some brush. 29 days after the eggs are laid they hatch. The new ducklings are accompanied by their mother for an additional 7-8 weeks.

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