About the Yellow-billed Duck
The yellow-billed duck is a 51–58 cm long dabbling duck which is an abundant resident breeder in southern and eastern Africa. This duck is not migratory, but wanders in the dry season to find suitable waters. It is highly gregarious outside the breeding season and forms large flocks.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
These are mallard-sized mainly grey ducks with a darker head and bright yellow bill. The wings are whitish below, and from above show a white-bordered green speculum. Sexes are similar, and juveniles are slightly duller than adults. The north-eastern race is darker and has a brighter bill and blue speculum. It is a bird of freshwater habitats in fairly open country and feeds by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. It nests on the ground in dense vegetation near water. Rarely, it is found in suburban areas, in close proximity to golf courses, parks and lakes or dams.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Germany, Belgium, Spain, Burundi, United Kingdom.
When to see it
Peak activity in January · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Eastern Spot-billed DuckAnas zonorhynchaThis duck is around the same size as a mallard and has a scaly patterned body with a blue speculum.
Yellow-billed TealAnas flavirostrisThe namesake bill is bright yellow with a black tip and a black band along the ridge of the culmen.
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: Chestnut Teal vs Yellow-billed Duck · Indian Spot-billed Duck vs Yellow-billed Duck · Eastern Spot-billed Duck vs Yellow-billed Duck · Yellow-billed Duck vs Yellow-billed Teal
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