Knob-billed Duck

Adults have a white head and neck speckled with dark spots, a glossy black back with iridescent green, blue, and purple hues, and whitish underparts. Males are significantly larger and feature a distinctive fleshy black comb (knob) on the bill during the breeding season. Females are smaller, lack the comb, and are duller in appearance.

White head and neck with fine dark flecking, iridescent black upperparts, white underparts, and the prominent fleshy black bill knob in breeding males.

Length: 56-76 cm (22-30 inches); Wingspan: 140-160 cm; Weight: 1.3-2.6 kg (males are notably heavier than females).

Generally quiet, but males emit a low, gruff whistle or grunt during courtship; females may give a low quack.

Primarily vegetarian, feeding on grasses, seeds, water plants, and fallen grain, supplemented occasionally by small fish, frogs, and insects.

Freshwater wetlands, flooded grasslands, shallow lakes, marshes, and reservoirs, often with adjacent wooded areas suitable for perching.

Mainly resident with some regional nomadic or partial migratory movements following seasonal water availability and rainfall.

Nests in tree cavities, tall reed beds, or occasionally on the ground. Clutches usually consist of 7 to 15 yellowish-white eggs. Incubation is performed primarily by the female.

Other large perching ducks or geese, but the combination of the black-and-white patterned head, dark glossy back, and especially the male's fleshy bill knob makes it unmistakable.

As consumers of aquatic vegetation, seeds, and small organisms, they help regulate plant growth in wetlands and contribute to seed dispersal.

Least Concern, with a generally stable global population trend.

Look for them perched in dead trees near water or wading in shallow flooded grasslands and wetlands. Patience is key as they can be wary.

Despite being ducks, they possess strong claws and frequently perch high up in trees, earning them the classification of perching ducks.