General

Mottled Duck: Medium-sized dabbling duck with dark brown mottled body, feathers usually showing distinct multi-toned chevrons, buff-brown face and unmarked neck, and darker crown and eye line. Speculum is blue-green bordered with black and very fine white bars. Bill is bright yellow; legs and feet are orange. Sexes are similar; female and juvenile are slightly paler and usually have duller, yellow-green bills.

Range and Habitat

Mottled Duck: Breeds from Texas to Florida, introduced to South Carolina coast. Non-migratory, year-round resident of coastal marshes, both freshwater and estuarine. Forages in rice and agricultural fields, particularly in autumn. Occasionally found inland.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"quack"

Interesting Facts

 The only duck adapted to breeding in southern marshes, the Mottled Duck is a relative of the Mallard. It is in danger of being displaced by introduced Mallards, primarily because of hybridization.

 Until recently, no other duck of the genus Anas nested in these marshes, and the distinctive male plumage was gradually lost. After thousands of years of evolutionary change, the two sexes are colored alike.

 The Floridan population is separated as the nominate subspecies Anas fulvigula fulvigula and is occasionally called the Florida Duck or Florida Mallard.

 A group of ducks has many collective nouns, including a "brace", "flush", "paddling", "raft", and "team" of ducks.

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