About the Mottled Duck
The mottled duck or mottled mallard is a medium-sized species of dabbling duck. It is intermediate in appearance between the female mallard and the American black duck. It is closely related to those species, and is sometimes erroneously considered a subspecies of the former.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
The adult mottled duck is 44 to 61 cm (17–24 in) long from head to tail. It has a dark body, lighter head and neck, orange legs and dark eyes. Both sexes have a shiny green-blue speculum (wing patch), which is not bordered with white as with the mallard. Males and females are similar, but the male's bill is bright yellow, whereas the female's is deep to pale orange, occasionally lined with black splotches around the edges and near the base. The plumage is darker than in female mallards, especially at the tail, and the bill is yellower.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada.
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Grey TealAnas gracilisIt is identified by the presence of a crimson coloured iris in its eyes, which is relatively more prominent in adult males.
Chestnut TealAnas castaneaThe chestnut teal is darker and a slightly bigger bird than the grey teal.
Indian Spot-billed DuckAnas poecilorhynchaThis duck is around the same size as a mallard and has a scaly patterned body with a green speculum bordered by white.
Side by side: Mottled Duck vs Northern Pintail · American Black Duck vs Mottled Duck · Mottled Duck vs Pacific Black Duck · Mottled Duck vs Muscovy Duck · Grey Teal vs Mottled Duck · Chestnut Teal vs Mottled Duck · Indian Spot-billed Duck vs Mottled Duck
Learn the Mottled Duck for real
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