Pacific Black Duck

Anas superciliosa

Also known as: Gray Duck, Grey Duck, Pbd, Pbdu

About This Species

A dabbling duck with a distinctive dark cap and pale face stripes, it is common on lakes, rivers, estuaries and wetlands across Australia, New Zealand and much of the southwest Pacific, often mixing with other waterfowl. It feeds by tipping up in shallow water or grazing on adjacent grass, and is generally approachable in urban lakes and wetland reserves. It can be seen year-round, with numbers often swelling at favoured wetlands after rain fills seasonal waterholes.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

This is a tolerant species in many urban and semi-urban settings, but feeding it bread or processed food should be avoided since it causes nutritional problems and can foul water bodies, and a respectful distance that does not force birds off the water is a better way to enjoy them.
Wild duck protections differ across the Pacific nations it occurs in, with hunting regulated by season and permit in some countries and more general nest and cruelty protections elsewhere, so check local rules rather than assuming a single standard.
During the breeding season, keeping dogs away from nesting cover along pond and lake margins helps protect eggs and ducklings from disturbance.

LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae

Seasonal Activity

1,187,984 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

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Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.