General

Pacific Black Duck: Large, black-brown duck, buff edges to feathers. Head has black-brown crown, buff line above eye, on face, and on throat, and black line through red-brown eye, and from bill across lower face. Gray-black, flat bill with black spot on tip. Fairly long, broad, pointed wings with white-gray linings and blue-green patch on secondaries bordered by black. Short, black-brown, rounded tail, green-yellow legs with webbed feet. Feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, snails, and insects.

Breeding and Nesting

Pacific Black Duck: Seven to thirteen buff-yellow eggs are laid in a shallow nest made of marsh grass, twigs, and other vegetation. Nest is lined with down feathers, and can be built on the ground, in tall grass, or in marsh vegetation. Eggs can also be laid in an old nest. Incubation is carried out by the female for 26 to 30 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Pacific Black Duck: Feeds on seeds, grain, aquatic plants, snails, and aquatic insects. This duck forages by dipping its head and neck below the surface of the water and using its bill to grasp vegetation and other food items. It can also pick vegetation and insects off the ground in grassy areas at the edge of wetlands.

Vocalization

Pacific Black Duck: Females emit loud "quack." Males produce loud "raehb" as alarm call.

Similar Species

Unlikely to be confused with any other species in this range. Palaun subspecies assumed extinct.