Thalassornis leuconotus
The White-backed Duck, *Thalassornis leuconotus*, is a distinctive medium-sized waterfowl species, measuring approximately 38-40 cm (15-16 in) in length and weighing between 620-800 g (1.4-1.8 lb). Its plumage is predominantly dark brown, finely speckled with buff, featuring a paler belly and a dark cap. The most defining, yet often hidden, field mark is a prominent white patch on its lower back or rump, typically only visible during flight or certain displays. It possesses a large head, shor...
This highly aquatic duck primarily inhabits permanent freshwater wetlands, favoring well-vegetated swamps, marshes, and lakes with extensive submerged and emergent vegetation like papyrus, reeds, and water lilies, often in deeper water. It occurs from lowlands up to elevations exceeding 3000m.
The White-backed Duck's diet consists mainly of tubers, roots, and seeds of aquatic plants, particularly water lilies (*Nymphaea*) and sedges (*Cyperus*), supplemented by algae, filamentous plants, and opportunistic consumption of aquatic insect larvae, mollusks, and small crustaceans.
White-backed Ducks are diurnal and spend a significant portion of their day diving for food, often remaining submerged for 15-30 seconds. Their foraging strategy is unique, involving an 'upside-down' posture where they submerge their head and body to dabble and filter through bottom mud, with onl...
The White-backed Duck exhibits a disjunct, non-migratory distribution across Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. The nominate subspecies, *Thalassornis leuconotus leuconotus*, is found in a broad arc from Ethiopia and Sudan south through East Africa (including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Buru...
Least Concern
- The White-backed Duck is the only species in its genus, *Thalassornis*, representing an ancient and distinct lineage within the duck family. - Despite its name, the diagnostic white patch on its back is often hidden by its wings and is typically only visible when the bird is in flight or perfor...