ID Keys: Black bill with terminal yellow band, dark body, pale gray
neck and head, dark cap and eyestripe
The
Eastern Spot-billed Duck is one of three Spot-billed Duck species in
Eurasia, with the species sometimes considered conspecific. The Eastern
Spot-billed Duck is the only one that has made an appearance in North
America, with a handful of sightings in the Aleutian Islands. All
Eurasia's Spot-billed Ducks are closely related to the
Mallard.
Habitat
Found in areas of shallow water with significant amounts of aquatic vegetation.
Diet
Primarily vegetarian, feeding on aquatic plants, seeds, and grasses and sedges. Will occasionally feed on insects.
Nesting
The nest of an Eastern Spot-billed Duck is a bowl of grasses and wetland reeds, lined with down, placed on the ground near the water's edge.
Behavior
A dabbling duck, foraging at or near the water's surface by dabbling at the surface or upending. During the breeding season, they can be found nesting alone, or in small loose groups. They are much more gregarious in winter where they often form larger flocks.
Song
Quacking, similar to North America's Mallard .
Migration
Strongly migratory. In the summer, breeding birds are found in eastern Siberia, Japan, and elsewhere in eastern Asia. In the winter, they are found in southern China, the Phillipines, and Indonesia.
Interactive eBird Map
Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Eastern Spot-billed Duck sightings
Similar Species
Mallard , American Black Duck
Conservation Status
There are no major threats to the species at this time, and the IUCN lists the Eastern Spot-billed Duck as a species of "Least Concern ".
Photo Information
Photo taken by Greg Schechter - November 3rd, 2011 - Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan - - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.
