Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 17.3–24 in
44–61 cm - Wingspan
- 338.6 in
860 cm - Weight
- 20.8–48.7 oz
590–1380 g
Other Names
- Florida Duck, Dusky Duck
- Canard Brun (French)
- Pato Tejano, Pato Moteado, Pato Chaparro, Pato Negro (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Compared to other species of ducks, pair formation occurs early, with nearly 80% of all individuals paired by November. Breeding starts in January, continuing through to July and usually peaking in March and April.
Habitat
Lake/Pond
Freshwater wetlands, ditches, wet prairies, and seasonally flooded marshes.
Food
Insects
Seeds of grasses, aquatic vegetation, rice, aquatic invertebrates, and a few small fish.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 5–13 eggs
- Egg Description
- Dull white to olive.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in down and able to leave the nest soon after hatching.
Nest Description
Depression in grass. Lined with vegetation and down from female's breast.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Dabbler
Dabbles, filter-feeds at surface of water, tips-up in shallow water.
Conservation
Least Concern
Loss of wetland habitat has led to decrease in populations. Numbers fluctuate widely in response to periodic drought conditions. Mallards introduced as pets frequently interbreed with Mottled Ducks.
Credits
- Moorman, T. E. and P. N. Gray. 1994. Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) .In The Birds of North America, No. 81 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.