BLACK DUCK 
ANAS RUBRIPES Brewsteb 
(Plate 23) 
Synonymy 
Anas obscura Gmelin {nec Pontoppidan, 1763), Linne’s Systema Naturse, ed. 13, 
vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 541, 1788. 
Anas hoschas, var. obscura Lesson, Traite d’Ornith., p. 634, 1831. 
Anas obscura rubripes Brewster, Auk, vol. 19, p. 183, 1902. 
Anas rubripes Dwight, Auk, vol. 26, p. 422, 1909. 
Vernacular Names 
English: Dusky Duck, Black Duck or Black INIallard, Red-legged Black Duck, 
Spring or Winter Black Duck, Black Stock Duck. 
French: Canard noir. 
German: Dustere Ente, Dunkle Ente, Schwarze Stockente. 
Spanish: Pato triguero. 
Mexican: Xomotl. 
DESCRIPTION 
Adult Male: General color deep browTiish black, all feathers edged with pale buff, or buflFy gray. 
Top of head black, the feathers more or less edged with buff. Cheeks, chin, throat and upper neck 
buff -colored, streaked more or less heavily with blackish. Chin and throat sometimes nearly im- 
maculate, at other times very dark; through the eye an irregular darker stripe. Speculum of the wing 
brilliant purple as in the Mallard, but framed anteriorly with a black band composed of the tips of 
the greater coverts, and posteriorly by another black band formed by the ends of the secondaries. 
A narrow white band, sometimes almost obsolete, is present on the tips of the secondaries. Axillars 
and under wing-coverts white. In full-plumaged old birds there is often a bronzy-green cast to most 
of the feathers of the upper surface, the rump may have greenish or blue reflections, and the central 
tail-feathers sharp points, or even slightly upturned ends. Slight tinges of metallic green on the back 
of the head or behind the eye are not uncommon. The feather edges on the breast are often darker 
than on the abdomen and the tertials become gray. 
Iris dark brown. Bill greenish yellow to clear yellow. Legs and feet orange red to brilliant coral red. 
Size same as the Mallard: wing 265-292 mm; bill 52-58; tarsus 44-48. 
Weight 2 pounds 8 ounces to 3 pounds 12 ounces (1.13 to 1.70 kilograms). Specimens over 3 
pounds 8 ounces are uncommon; average of males in late autumn in extra-fine condition may be 
as high as 3.2 pounds but is usually just under 3 pounds. 
Adult Female : Similar to male but slightly smaller. Bill darker and more olive-colored, mottled on 
culmen. Legs and feet greenish yellow to dull orange. This sex can usually be told in the field by 
the darker bill and smaller size. 
