Automatically translated. This page was translated automatically from German and has not been reviewed by our editors.Show original

Birds

Knob-billed duck

Knob-billed duck · Sarkidiornis melanotos

The knob-billed duck stands out with its iridescent plumage and distinctive bill shape.

Fact file

Size: Males up to 79 cm long and weighing up to 2,6 kg, females slightly smaller.
Males and females: Male knob-billed ducks have a conspicuous black bulge on the bill, while females are more inconspicuously coloured.
Sounds: Their vocalisations are a characteristic quacking sound, which often resembles a warning call.
Diet: Feeds on aquatic plants, seeds and insects.
Offspring: A clutch usually consists of 8 to 12 eggs, which hatch after about 28 days.

How to identify Knob-billed duck

The knob-billed duck has striking plumage with a metallic sheen that shimmers in different light conditions. Its head shows a distinctive black bulge, which explains the characteristic name 'Knob-billed duck'.

Males are larger and reach a length of up to 79 cm. They can weigh up to 2,6 kg. Compared with the females, which are smaller and browner in colour, the males are easy to recognise.