African Black Duck (Anas sparsa) - HBW 1, p. 601
French: Canard noir
Spanish: Anade Negro
Other common names: Black River Duck, Black Duck; West African/Ethiopian Black Duck (leucostigma); South African Black Duck (sparsa)
Taxonomy: Anas sparsa Eyton, 1838, South Africa.
Sometimes placed in monospecific genus Melananas. Population of Gabon and Cameroon has been assigned separate subspecies maclatchyi, but doubtfully valid. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- leucostigma Rüppell, 1845 - W equatorial Africa; E Africa S to Zimbabwe.
- sparsa Eyton, 1838 - S Africa S of Zimbabwe.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
VideosSee all 8 videos
A bird feeding in the water Locality Wakkerstroom, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp sparsa)
Christian Boix Hinzen 4 July 2006 6 years ago 52 sec 4.7
A female swimming with a chick on a river Locality Gefersa Reservoir, Ethiopia (ssp leucostigma)
Josep del Hoyo 23 November 2005 9 years ago 43 sec 4.4
A bird swimming past on a small stream Locality Goba, Ethiopia (ssp leucostigma)
Keith Blomerley 9 April 2002 6 years ago 6 sec 4.2
A female in a wetland. Locality Mabamba Wetland, Uganda (ssp leucostigma)
Josep del Hoyo 26 August 2006 8 years ago 21 sec 4.1
Two birds in a stream, one standing, the other preening Locality Mountain Lodge, Mount Kenya National Park, Kenya (ssp leucostigma)
Brooke Clibbon 9 December 2002 8 years ago 10 sec 4
pair swimming along drainage channel Locality Sululta Plains, Ethiopia (ssp leucostigma)
Martin Kennewell 6 November 2011 1 year ago 30 sec 3.6
PhotosSee all 14 photos
Individual ready to jump in a stream
Locality Aberdare National Park, Kenya (ssp leucostigma)
Bruno Schmetz 10 December 2008 6 years ago 4.2
Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa (ssp sparsa)
Guy Poisson 1 November 2012 2 years ago 4
A pair visiting a small dam after heavy rains.
Locality Hazyview, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa (ssp sparsa)
Robert Erasmus 12 May 2011 2 years ago 4
a male and a female by a stream not far from Addis Abeba
Locality Ethiopia (ssp leucostigma)
Stefan Helming 3 May 2008 6 years ago 4
Standing on a river.
Locality Debre Libanos, Oromia Region, Ethiopia (ssp leucostigma)
Fran Trabalon 6 November 2012 21 weeks ago 3.7
A pair in a small stream near Thomson's Falls, Nyahuru, Kenya
Locality Nyahururu (Thompson Falls), Kenya (ssp leucostigma)
Thomas Holmberg 24 November 2011 2 years ago 3.4