General

Spot-billed Duck: Native of Asia, named for red spots at base of yellow-tipped black bill; however, the subspecies occurring in North America generally lacks these red spots. Scaled brown overall with buff face, neck and upper breast, and dark crown, nape and eyestripe. Speculum is blue with white borders; legs and feet are orange. Sexes are similar. Juvenile is grayer overall.

Range and Habitat

Spot-billed Duck: Common in its native Asia, found in lakes, rivers, ponds, and freshwater marshes.

Breeding and Nesting

Spot-billed Duck: Seven to ten white eggs are laid in a nest lined with feathers and down on dry ground on top of a thick pile of moss or grasses. Female incubates eggs from 26 to 30 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Spot-billed Duck: Eats aquatic plants, seeds, and snails by dabbling in water with head in water and tail pointed up.

Vocalization

Spot-billed Duck: Has not been recorded but is similar to Mallard.

Similar Species

Spot-billed Duck: Female Mallard has yellow-orange bill with dark mottling and metallic blue speculum with white border. American Black Duck is black-brown overall, yellow bill with black tip and purple-blue speculum with black border.