Black-headed Duck

Heteronetta atricapilla

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernOmnivoreWetlandLarge · 538 g

ID tip

The black-headed duck is the most basal living member of its subfamily, and it lacks the stiff tail and swollen bill of its relatives. Overall much resembling a fairly typical diving duck, its plumage and other peculiarities indicate it may not be a very close relative of the other stiff-tailed ducks, but rather the product of convergent evolution from the ancestors of the stiff-tailed ducks. The black-headed duck is about 35 cm (14 in) long. Males weigh an average of about 510 g (18 oz) and females 565 g (20 oz). Voice: The black-headed duck is usually silent. It does give a low "quah quah" as part of a courtship display, and also "a two note grunt followed by a whistle: – gr-rump-freet." Females make "clucking notes."

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Black-headed Duck

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Black-headed Duck

Regular range

The map shades 6 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Black-headed Duck

The black-headed duck is a South American duck in subfamily Oxyurinae of family Anatidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Black-headed Duck vs West Indian Whistling Duck · Baikal Teal vs Black-headed Duck · African Pygmy Goose vs Black-headed Duck · Black-headed Duck vs Masked Duck

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