Anas diazi
The Mexican Duck (Anas diazi) is a medium-sized dabbling duck, typically measuring 51-58 cm (20-23 in) in length with a wingspan of 86-91 cm (34-36 in) and weighing between 800-1200g (1.7-2.6 lbs). Its overall plumage is a uniformly dark brownish-gray, lacking the bold patterns seen in many other dabblers. Key identification marks include a bright yellow-orange bill, particularly vibrant in males, dusky feet, and an iridescent blue-green speculum without prominent white borders. Taxonomically...
Mexican Ducks primarily inhabit freshwater wetlands, including marshes, ponds, rivers, and irrigation ditches, often within arid or semi-arid landscapes. They are typically found at low to moderate elevations, though they can occur up to 9,000 feet in mountainous regions of Mexico.
Their diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation, including seeds, stems, and leaves of grasses, sedges, and smartweeds, supplemented with a significant amount of aquatic invertebrates such as insects, snails, and crustaceans. They forage primarily by dabbling in shallow water.
Mexican Ducks are diurnal, spending their days dabbling for food, preening, and resting, often roosting on the water or on secluded banks. Their foraging strategy involves dabbling the water's surface, head-dipping, and occasionally up-ending to reach submerged vegetation and invertebrates. Males...
The core breeding and resident range of the Mexican Duck primarily encompasses the southwestern United States, specifically southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, and a small portion of western Texas, extending south throughout much of central Mexico. This distribution includes the Mexican Pl...
Least Concern
- The Mexican Duck is often considered a subspecies of the widespread Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos diazi), highlighting its close genetic relationship. - Hybridization with introduced or expanding populations of Northern Mallards is a significant conservation concern, threatening the genetic integ...