An Overview of Ducks with Black Heads Around the World

Ducks come in a stunning array of colors and patterns across the world’s continents While female and juvenile ducks tend to have more subdued brown or grey plumage, male ducks often sport brightly colored feathers to attract mates One of the most striking features on some species of male ducks is a jet black head which strongly contrasts their other plumage. Let’s take a look at some of the world’s ducks that have characteristic black heads.

Why Do Some Male Ducks Have Black Heads?

In many duck species, the male develops bright, bold plumage during the breeding season to attract females A black head allows the male to stand out and be easily spotted by females looking for mates The striking contrast between a black head and colorful body plumage is thought to be particularly eye-catching and attractive to females. Males with the most vibrant plumage tend to be preferred as mates and have higher breeding success.

Ring-Necked Duck

The ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris) is a medium-sized diving duck found in North America. The male has glossy black feathers on the head neck back, and rear end. The sides of the body are gray, there is a white bar on the wing, and the bill has a distinctive white ring near the tip. The ring around the neck that gives this duck its name is very difficult to see. Females have brownish body plumage with a grey-brown head and white eye ring.

Tufted Duck

The male tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) of Europe and Asia is another black-headed species. It has a black head with long black crest feathers, black breast, upper back, and rump. The sides are white with black markings. The female is brown with a smaller crest. During breeding, the male displays his crest and does a head-throw-back courtship gesture.

Greater Scaup

The greater scaup (Aythya marila) breeds in the far northern parts of North America and Eurasia. The male has a green-glossed black head, black breast and neck, gray back and flanks, and white sides. Females are mottled brown with a darker brown head and white patch by the bill. Greater scaup flock in coastal areas and dive for mollusks and crustaceans to eat.

Lesser Scaup

Closely related to the greater scaup, the lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) can be found throughout North America. Males have a green-glossed black head, white sides with black feathering, and a black rump. Females are brown with a dark brown head. Lesser scaups specialize in diving and feeding on aquatic insects and crustaceans. They breed in the prairie pothole region and interior Alaska.

##Common Goldeneye

Common goldeneyes (Bucephala clangula) are chunky sea ducks of northern regions. The male has a round black head with a purple gloss and large white cheek patch. Females are grey-brown with a brown head and yellow eyes. Their diet consists largely of mollusks which they dive for and open with their strong bills. They nest in tree cavities near lakes and ponds.

Hooded Merganser

Male hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) have a fan-shaped, black-and-white crested hood on a black head and neck. Their sides are chestnut colored with black and white bars. Females have a reddish-brown crest and gray body. Hooded mergansers breed in swampy areas across northern North America and forage for fish and crayfish.

Black-Headed Duck

The black-headed duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) lives in South America. As the name implies, the male has a glossy black head and neck with rich brown plumage on the body. Females have a dark brown head and mottled brown-grey body. They are the only ducks in the world that nest exclusively in the old nests of other bird species.

Australian Shelduck

Both sexes of the Australian shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides) have a black head and neck, dark green collar, white wing patches, and chestnut breastband. This large duck breeds in river valleys in southern Australia and feeds on aquatic plants, insects, and snails in shallow water. Pairs bond for life and defend their feeding territories together.

Paradise Shelduck

The male paradise shelduck (Tadorna variegata) of New Zealand has a black head, dark green back, and chestnut belly. The female looks very different with a pure white head, grey back, and black markings on the wings. Pairs or small flocks graze grass in fields and river valleys. They were introduced to parts of Europe like Britain and Germany.

Yellow-billed Duck

The yellow-billed duck (Anas undulata) inhabits eastern and southern Africa. The male has a blackish head with iridescent green markings around the eye, a yellow bill, and bold black and white bars on its body. The female is brown-toned with fine patterning. This duck is social and flocks in the thousands on lakes, dams, and flooded fields.

Maccoa Duck

The Maccoa duck (Oxyura maccoa) of southern Africa is a stiff-tailed duck named for the Scottish explorer Andrew Maccoa. The male has a black head, rufous plumage, and bright blue bill. The drab grey-brown female lacks these adornments. Maccoa ducks can dive to depths of 20 feet in search of aquatic plants and invertebrates.

A glossy black head allows male ducks of many species to capture the attention of females during mating season. Iconic ducks bearing this trait include the ring-necked duck, tufted duck, scaup, goldeneye, mergansers, and exotic species from Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and South America. Watch for black-headed beauties during spring and summer months when ducks are breeding across much of the world.