Hawaiian Duck
Anas wyvilliana
The Hawaiian Duck (Anas wyvilliana) is a rare ducks, swans, and geese found only in the United States, weighing about 843 g. The Hawaiian duck or koloa is a species of bird in the family Anatidae that is endemic to the large islands of Hawaiʻi.
About the Hawaiian Duck
The Hawaiian duck or koloa is a species of bird in the family Anatidae that is endemic to the large islands of Hawaiʻi. Taxonomically, the koloa is closely allied with the mallard. It differs in that it is monomorphic and non-migratory. As with many duck species in the genus Anas, Hawaiian duck and mallards can interbreed and produce viable offspring, and the koloa has previously been considered an island subspecies of the mallard. However, all major authorities now consider this form to be a distinct species within the mallard complex. Recent analyses indicate that this is a distinct species that arose through ancient hybridization between mallard and the Laysan duck. The native Hawaiian…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Both male and female are mottled brown in color and resemble a female mallard. The males are usually bigger than the females. The speculum feathers of both sexes are green to blue, bordered on both sides by white. The tail is dark overall, unlike the black-and-white tail of a mallard. The feet and legs are orange to yellow-orange. The bill is olive green in the male and dull orange with dark markings in the female. The adult male has a darker head and neck. The female is generally lighter-colored than the male and has plain back feathers. Voice: The Hawaiian duck quacks like a mallard, but its call is softer and it quacks less frequently.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Hawaiian Duck can be seen all year round, with peak activity in February. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Hawaiian Duck?
- Both male and female are mottled brown in color and resemble a female mallard. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Hawaiian Duck?
- The Hawaiian Duck is a large sized bird weighing about 843 g.
- Where can you see a Hawaiian Duck?
- The Hawaiian Duck is endemic to the United States, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Hawaiian Duck?
- The Hawaiian Duck is most easily confused with the Brown Teal, the Sunda Teal and the Andaman Teal.
- Is the Hawaiian Duck endangered?
- The Hawaiian Duck is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Hawaiian Duck for real
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