Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Anas zonorhyncha
The Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha) is a common ducks, swans, and geese found in 20 countries, weighing about 1.2 kg. The eastern spot-billed duck or Chinese spot-billed duck is a species of dabbling duck that breeds in East and Southeast Asia.
About the Eastern Spot-billed Duck
The eastern spot-billed duck or Chinese spot-billed duck is a species of dabbling duck that breeds in East and Southeast Asia. This species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Indian spot-billed duck and both were referred to as the spot-billed duck. The name is derived from the yellow spot on the bill.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This duck is around the same size as a mallard and has a scaly patterned body with a blue speculum. At rest the long neck and the bill with the yellow tip are distinctive. It measures 55–63 cm (22–25 in) in length and 83–95 cm (33–37 in) across the wings, with a body mass of 790–1,500 g (1.74–3.31 lb). These are mainly grey ducks with a paler head and neck and a black bill tipped bright yellow. The wings are whitish with black flight feathers below, and from above show a white-bordered green. The male does not have an eclipse plumage. Juveniles are browner and duller than adults.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, United Kingdom, Palau.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Eastern Spot-billed Duck?
- This duck is around the same size as a mallard and has a scaly patterned body with a blue speculum. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Eastern Spot-billed Duck?
- The Eastern Spot-billed Duck is a large sized bird weighing about 1.2 kg.
- Where can you see an Eastern Spot-billed Duck?
- The Eastern Spot-billed Duck occurs in 20 countries, including Taiwan, Japan, China, South Korea and Hong Kong SAR China.
- What birds look similar to an Eastern Spot-billed Duck?
- The Eastern Spot-billed Duck is most easily confused with the Yellow-billed Duck, the Yellow-billed Teal and the Indian Spot-billed Duck.
- Is the Eastern Spot-billed Duck endangered?
- The Eastern Spot-billed Duck is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eastern Spot-billed Duck for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.