It is a slender, long-legged species of waterfowl that measures between 48 and 53 centimeters in length. It is characterized by a striking bright coral-red bill and pink legs. Its plumage combines a rich reddish-brown tone on the chest and back, while the belly and tail are entirely black, which gives it its common name. The head is grayish with a brown crown that extends down the back of the neck. It features a very distinct and well-defined white eye-ring. In flight, it exhibits a broad white wing stripe that contrasts sharply with the black primary feathers, an infallible distinctive trait for identification from a distance. There is no marked sexual dimorphism, so males and females look identical, although juvenile specimens show duller tones, a grayish bill, and a dark gray belly instead of black.
Geographic distribution: It has a very wide distribution in the American continent, ranging from the southern United States (particularly Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana) and the entirety of Mexico and Central America, to a vast portion of South America. In the southern subcontinent, it extends through Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, much of Brazil, and the northern and central regions of Argentina, reaching the north of the Pampean region. Depending on the severity of the winter weather, populations located at the northern and southern extremes of its distribution can undertake seasonal migratory movements toward warmer tropical zones, while resident populations in equatorial regions remain stable throughout the year.
Environment: It inhabits a wide variety of shallow wetlands, both fresh and brackish. It is commonly found in lagoons, marshes, swamps, flooded savannas, and waterlogged agricultural fields, with a marked preference for rice paddies, where it finds abundant food. Unlike other ducks, it has a strong arboreal tendency, requiring environments with the presence of scattered trees, gallery forests, or mangroves close to water bodies. It is a highly adaptable species that tolerates human presence well, frequently visiting artificial ponds on golf courses, agricultural dams, and suburban reservoirs.
Feeding: Its diet is fundamentally herbivorous and granivorous. It feeds mainly on a wide variety of seeds from aquatic plants and grasses, as well as commercial crops such as rice, corn, and sorghum. It opportunistically supplements its nutrition by consuming small invertebrates, such as aquatic insects, snails, and crustaceans, especially during the breeding season when it requires a higher protein intake. Its foraging habits are predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular, moving in large flocks into agricultural fields during the night and returning to water bodies at dawn to rest. It usually feeds by walking on dry land or wading in shallow water, occasionally resorting to filtering mud.
Behavior: It stands out for being a highly gregarious and noisy species. It forms flocks that can gather hundreds or even thousands of individuals outside the breeding season. Its vocalization is a high-pitched, musical, and repetitive whistle that it constantly emits both in flight and when perched, making it easy to locate. It has a great ability to perch on tree branches and fence posts thanks to its long legs and developed claws, a behavior uncommon in most ducks. Being mainly crepuscular in habit, it spends the central hours of the day resting on the shores or on floating vegetation, showing great group cohesion at any sign of danger.
Nesting: The reproductive period varies according to latitude, being strongly linked to the rainy season in tropical areas. It is a monogamous species that forms long-term pairs. It has a marked preference for nesting in natural tree cavities, although when these are scarce, it can build structures on the ground among dense marsh vegetation or use artificial nest boxes. The female lays a large clutch ranging from 12 to 16 shiny white eggs. Incubation is shared equally by both parents and lasts approximately 25 to 30 days. The chicks are precocial, meaning they leave the nest shortly after hatching, jumping from the heights of the tree if necessary, and are closely guided and protected by both parents toward safe water.
Conservation category: It is listed as a species of Least Concern (LC) according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Its global populations are stable and, in some regions of the northern part of its distribution, are in clear numerical and geographic expansion. It does not face large-scale critical threats, due to its remarkable capacity to adapt and benefit from anthropogenic modifications, such as the creation of irrigation districts and rice plantations. However, at a local level, it can be affected by the loss of suitable forested habitats for nesting, agrochemical pollution in agricultural areas, and pressure from illegal hunting.
Author of this compilation: EcoRegistros – 06/07/2026