Adult - Rietvlei Nature Reserve. All images copyright Simply Birding.
Adult - Rietvlei Nature Reserve. All images copyright Simply Birding.
African Black Duck
Anas sparsa- Habitat:Prefers streams and rivers. Not as common on open water.
- Diet: Aquatic insects and some aquatic plants.
- Status: Common breeding resident.
- Calls: Song Male gives soft peep sounds to attract a mate. Flight call typical loud duck-like quacks but a bit harsher and raspier.
- Similar looking: Not too many local species should cause confusion due to the dark brown plumage, white back spots and black bill. Beware of some hybrid and escapee foreign species.
- Similar sounding: Yellow-billed Duck and Mallard. Flight call quacks are very similar. Lacks the 4 - 5 note decending quack song of Yellow-billed Duck.
Fun facts
Although it is mainly a river duck, this species prefers roosting at night on open water. If you are searching at dawn or dusk, you may not find this species on rivers but still on nearby patches of open water.
ID pitfalls
For local species, the combination of black bill, dark brown plumage and white back spots is diagnostic. Female Maccoa Duck smaller and lacks white back spots.
Where to find one
Common throughtout its range but prefers smaller and more overgrown streams. A bit more secretive than other ducks and best found by walking along the banks of smaller streams.