Despite its name, the American Black Duck is brown, not black (top picture). You can tell it from any other brown ducks in one of two ways. The best way is to note that its head is lighter brown than its dark brown body. None of our other brown ducks shows this two-tone colouration and none have a small dark purple patch on their wings. This colour patch is called a speculum and you can see it when the bird is sitting or flying.

Trying to find an American Black Duck is not hard as it is our most common species of duck in Atlantic Canada. Outside of Atlantic Canada, the American Black Duck, also known as the Black Duck, is being rapidly replaced by Mallards (bottom picture). In fact, we have the last healthy population of Black Ducks in Canada. Mallards are replacing Black Ducks by interbreeding with them. Even here in Nova Scotia, the more aggressive and flashier male Mallards often out-compete male Black Ducks for the best female Black Ducks. When Black Ducks and Mallards interbreed, they produce fertile offspring. These offspring are hybrids and display features of both parents. If you see a flock of Black Ducks, check for hybrids. Some have the glossy green head of the male Mallard while others resemble Black Ducks. To spot these tricky hybrids, check the colour of the speculum. Instead of being dark purple it is often various shades of blue, light purple or even green.

Although the Black Duck is known for its alertness, it is a friendly species that readily associates with people. In fact, you can attract Black Ducks to your yard by offering them cracked corn. They are most comfortable in yards that border a lake or stream but will visit land locked ones as well.