Dabbling duck · Duck ID

American black duck

Anas rubripes · A dark, mallard-sized duck. Uncommon this far south and west.

Drake. Photo: DickDaniels (http://theworldbirds.org/) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Length: 21–23 in
Weight: 1.6–3.6 lb
Wingspan: 35–37 in
Group: Dabbling duck

Typical adult size. Drakes run larger than hens.

Field marks

How to identify a american black duck

Drake

Sooty dark-brown body and a paler gray-brown head. Yellow to olive bill and orange legs. The sexes look alike.

Hen

Like the drake, but the bill is duller olive with dark marks.

In flight

Dark body contrasts with bright white underwings. The violet-blue speculum has no white on the front edge.

Look-alikes

Mallard: Hen mallards are paler brown with white on both edges of the speculum.
Mottled duck: Mottled ducks are paler and warmer brown and live near the Gulf Coast.

Photos

American black duck gallery

American black duck: In flight — **In flight**U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · source

American black duck: On the water — **On the water**Gene Nieminen · Public domain · source

2026-27 bag limits

American black duck limits in six Mid-South states

State	American black duck daily limit	Possession	Total daily ducks	Source
MississippiNov 27–29; Dec 4–6; Dec 9, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	2 a day	3 times the daily limit Not confirmed Opening-day possession wording in the Digest (check the official source)	6 ducks a day	MDWFP Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits · checked Oct 22, 2026 Mississippi rules
TennesseeNov 28–29; Dec 5, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	2 a day	3 times the daily limit, except 1 times on opening day and 2 times on the second day	6 ducks a day	TWRA Waterfowl and Migratory Birds · checked Oct 22, 2026 Tennessee rules
ArkansasNov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	2 a day	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	AGFC Waterfowl Season Dates, Rules and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Arkansas rules
LouisianaEast Zone Nov 21–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 31; West Zone Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 19–Jan 24	1 a day	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	LDWF Seasons and Regulations · checked Oct 22, 2026 Louisiana rules
MissouriNorth Oct 31–Dec 29; Middle Nov 7–Dec 13 and Dec 19–Jan 10; South Nov 26–29 and Dec 7–Jan 31	2 a day	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	MDC 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest · checked Oct 22, 2026 Missouri rules
KentuckyNov 26–29; Dec 7, 2026–Jan 31, 2027	2 a day	3 times the daily limit	6 ducks a day	KDFWR 2026–27 Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide · checked Oct 22, 2026 Kentucky rules

Regular-season limits from each state’s official 2026-27 regulations. Possession limits count birds at home too. Federal rules apply on top of state rules, and some WMAs and refuges set stricter limits. Louisiana and Missouri set duck seasons by zone; the dates shown are for every zone.

Mid-South