Eastern Spot-billed Duck

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".

Further Information: 1) BirdForum.net - Eastern Spot-billed Duck

2) AvianWeb - Spot-billed Duck

3) WhatBird - Spot-billed Duck

Photo Information: Photo taken by Greg Schechter - November 3rd, 2011 - Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan -  - Photo licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License.

 

Click below for a higher-resolution map

South Dakota Status: Non-resident in South Dakota

Additional Eastern Spot-billed Duck Photos (Coming soon!)