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The American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) has been identified as a focal species of management concern because of major population declines over the last half century. American Black Ducks were once one of the most abundant freshwater ducks in eastern North America, particularly in the northeastern United States where they are year-round residents. The number of Black Ducks wintering in the United States has declined by more than 50% since the 1950s, with the sharpest decline occurring in the Mississippi Flyway. Over-hunting, degradation and loss of habitat, and competition with Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) have been hypothesized as potential causes of the historic decline. Current limiting factors are not known. The current breeding population of American Black Ducks in North America is estimated at 700,000 birds.
Date: June 2009
Sources: Longcore, J. R., D. G. McAuley, G. R. Hepp, and J. M. Rhymer. 2000. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). The Birds of North America Online (A. Poole, Ed.) Ithaca: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved June 2009 from http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/481.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008. Waterfowl Population Status, 2008. U.S. Department of the Interior, Washington, DC.
Species Profile from NatureServe
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Description:A duck.
Life History:
Clutch size 5-17 (usually 9-10). Incubation 23-33 days, by female. Young tended by female, first fly at about 60 days. Can breed as yearling but many males not mated until about 2 or more years old.
In fall in eastern Maine and southwestern New Brunswick, maximum distance moved from roost to marsh averaged 10 km (range 1-43 km) (Frazer et al. 1990).
Habitat:
Shallow margins of lakes, streams, bays mud flats, and open waters. Nests in both dry and wet woodlands. Wide variety of wetland habitats in both freshwater and marine situations, in and around marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, bays, estuaries, and tidal flats. As a result of a study of postfledging habitat use, Frazer et al. (1990) recommended maintaining large (30-50 ha) marshes containing dense emergent vegetation near a complex of diverse wetland types.
Estuarine Habitats: Bay/sound, Herbaceous wetland, Lagoon, River mouth/tidal river, Tidal flat/shore
Riverine Habitat: Low gradient
Lacustrine Habitat: Shallow water
Palustrine Habitats: Bog/fen, FORESTED WETLAND, HERBACEOUS WETLAND, Riparian, TEMPORARY POOL
Breeding: Breeding habitat and nest sites very diverse; favors wooded swamps and marshes, brackish or freshwater. In central Ontario, preferred small fertile wetlands with a moderate amount of open water and an irregular shoreline (Merendino and Ankney 1994). Usually nests on ground in concealing vegetation, rarely in abandoned tree nest of other bird species. Significant numbers may return to the natal home range to breed.
Distribution:
United States:
AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA (exotic), WI, WV
Canada:
BC (exotic), LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK
Status:
NatureServe Status: Global Status: G5, Global Status Last Reviewed: 21Nov1996, Global Status Last Changed: 21Nov1996, Rounded Global Status: G5 - Secure
Other Statuses: IUCN Red List Category: LC - Least concern
