Bird
Mexican Duck
Anas diaziMexican ducks are hardy dabbling ducks finely adapted to the arid wetlands and highland basins of northern Mexico and the American Southwest. Both sexes display mottled dusky-brown plumage resembling a dark female mallard, accentuated by a striking bluish-green speculum bordered by narrow white edges. Often encountered in pairs or small family groups, they feed in shallow ponds, irrigation ditches, and ephemeral desert marshlands.
WaterfowlWetlandDabbling Duck
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPondweed, Aquatic insects, Grass seeds
Predators
- Coyote
- Raccoon
- Peregrine Falcon
ThreatsWetland loss, agricultural water diversion, drought, and hybridization with feral mallards
HabitatsFreshwater marshes, shallow ponds, rivers, and agricultural irrigation canals
Life span5–10 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae
- GenusAnas
- SpeciesAnas diazi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Field ID: Check bill color carefully; males typically have olive-yellow bills without black splotches.
- Observing: Use a spotting scope near wetland vegetation to view them without flushing the flock.
- Hybrids: Look for curled central tail feathers or pale white tail edges indicating mallard ancestry.
Frequent Companion (c) Peter Chen 2.0, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Peter Chen 2.0 · cc-by
Close Relative This picture was realized by Richard Bartz by using a Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Andy Wilson · cc0
Same Family J.M.Garg / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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