American Black Duck
Anas rubripes

f6.7 @ 1/1600s, ISO:1000, Nikon D3S w 500mm and 1.7X tele-extender

\"American Black Duck,\" Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.American black ducks weigh 720–1,640 g (1.59–3.62 lb), measure 48–63 cm (19–25 in) in length and 88–96 cm (35–38 in) across the wings.Although they are similar to mallards in size and broadly overlap in weight, according to a manual of avian body masses, they have the highest mean body mass in the Anas genus, with 376 males averaging 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) and 176 females averaging 1.1 kg (2.4 lb).The American black duck somewhat resembles the female mallard in coloration, although the black duck\'s plumage is darker. The male and female black duck are generally similar in appearance, but the male\'s bill is yellow while the female\'s is a dull green. The head is slightly lighter brown than the dark brown body, and the speculum are iridescent violet-blue with predominantly black margins. The black duck has orange legs and dark eyes. In flight, the white underwings can be seen in contrast to the dark brown body. The behavior and voice are the same as for the mallard drake.

Salt Pond, Falmouth, Massachusetts

01/19/2015