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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
African Yellow-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Duck |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Anseriformes |
| FAMILY: |
Anatidae
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| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Anas (duck) undulata |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Adult yellow-bills are streaked blackish-gray on the head and neck regions. The dorsal (back) feathers are typically blackish-brown and scaled in appearance, while the lower feathers are mostly brown or tan in color. Like the mallard, these ducks have a metallic-green speculum bordered by black and white edging.
As indicated by its name, the yellow-billed duck has a bright yellow bill with a black patch and black edging on the upper mandible.
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| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
Females are almost identical in appearance to males except for a somewhat duller feather and bill coloration and a slightly smaller size. |
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| SIZE: |
Approximately 35 cm (14 in.)
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| MALE |
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| FEMALE |
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| WEIGHT: |
About 316 to 502 g (11-18 oz)
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| MALE |
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| FEMALE |
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| DIET: |
Yellow-billed ducks feed mainly on various types of plant matter and occasionally on small invertebrates.
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| INCUBATION: |
7 to 8 eggs are laid which incubate for about 25 to 26 days; 6 weeks to fledge. |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
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| FLEDGING
DURATION |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
1 to 2 years
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| MALE |
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| FEMALE |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Averages 20 to 30 years
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| MALE |
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| FEMALE |
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| HABITAT: |
Found near or in flowing well-wooded highland streams.
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown
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| LOCAL |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Not listed
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| CITES |
Not listed
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| USFWS |
Not listed
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| 1. |
Male ducks are called drakes, females are hens, and young are ducklings.
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| 2. |
African yellow-billed ducks are typically nocturnal foragers, feeding at dusk and after dark.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
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| These birds are a food source for predators and also help maintain plant growth.
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| Austin, G. Birds of The World. New York. Golden Press, Inc., 1961. |
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Gotch, A.F. Birds- Their Latin Names Explained. UK. Blandford Books Ltd., 1981. |
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Johnsgard, P. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World. Lincoln. Univ. Of Neb. Press, 1978.
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| Scott, P. A Coloured Key of the Wildfowl of the World. Slimbridge, England. The Wildfowl Trust. 1988. |
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| Todd, F.S. Natural History of Waterfowl. San Diego, Ca. Ibis Publishing Co., 1996. |
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