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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Mottled Duck

Anas fulvigula ORDER: ANSERIFORMES FAMILY: ANATIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

The only duck adapted to breeding in southern marshes, the Mottled Duck is a dull relative of the Mallard. It is in danger of being displaced by introduced Mallards, primarily because of hybridization.

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Appearance

Ducks
Ducks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Large dabbling duck.
  • Body dark brown.
  • Head and neck lighter brown.
  • White underwing linings contrast sharply with dark body in flight.
  • Greenish blue at back of wing.

Immature Description

Similar to adult.

Range Map Help

Mottled Duck Range Map
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Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Mottled Duck

    Adult
    • © William L. Newton / CLO

Similar Species

  • Female Mallard has bold white borders to speculum, orange bill, whitish tail feathers, pale belly, and is paler overall. Eclipse male Mallard has paler appearance, white tail, rusty wash on chest, and white borders to the speculum.
  • American Black Duck has darker appearance, little buffy edging or internal markings on the body feathers, a purplish speculum without white borders, and lacks a black spot at the base of the bill at the gape.