White-backed Duck (Thalassornis leuconotus)
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White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus Eyton, 1838

708 gWeight

The white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a waterbird of the family Anatidae.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia

White-backed Duck has been recorded at 176 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 15 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Manguo SwampKenya299 records
  2. Karura ForestKenya289 records
  3. iSimangaliso WP – Eastern ShoresSouth Africa208 records
More places
  1. Strandfontein WTPSouth Africa134 records
  2. Amboseli NPKenya131 records
  3. Suikerbosrand NRSouth Africa98 records
  4. Rietvlei Wetlands ReserveSouth Africa93 records
  5. Arusha NPTanzania85 records
  6. Lake Awassa – United Africa Shebelle Hotel areaEthiopia82 records
  7. PaardevleiSouth Africa79 records

Countries and regions with the most records

South AfricaKenyaEthiopiaTanzaniaZambiaBotswanaUgandaZimbabwe

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a waterbird of the family Anatidae. It is distinct from all other ducks, but most closely related to the whistling ducks in the subfamily Dendrocygninae, though also showing some similarities to the stiff-tailed ducks in the subfamily Oxyurinae. It is the only member of the genus Thalassornis.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the White-backed Duck?

The White-backed Duck weighs around 708 g.

Where does the White-backed Duck live?

Its breeding range: Africa: widespread. It is most often recorded in South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia.

When is the best time to see the White-backed Duck?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the White-backed Duck endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the White-backed Duck as Least Concern.

What does the White-backed Duck eat?

Main food: Aquatic plants.

What family is the White-backed Duck in?

It belongs to the family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae), order Anseriformes.

At a glance

Weight
708 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Aquatic plants
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
166 mm
Tail
42 mm
Bill
40 mm
Tarsus
38 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: widespread

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Ducks, Geese, Swans Anatidae
Genus
Thalassornis

More from the family Ducks, Geese, Swans

White-faced Whistling DuckWhite-faced Whistling DuckDendrocygna viduataBlack-bellied Whistling DuckBlack-bellied Whistling DuckDendrocygna autumnalisSpotted Whistling DuckSpotted Whistling DuckDendrocygna guttataWest Indian Whistling DuckWest Indian Whistling DuckDendrocygna arboreaFulvous Whistling DuckFulvous Whistling DuckDendrocygna bicolorPlumed Whistling DuckPlumed Whistling DuckDendrocygna eytoniWandering Whistling DuckWandering Whistling DuckDendrocygna arcuataLesser Whistling DuckLesser Whistling DuckDendrocygna javanicaCape Barren GooseCape Barren GooseCereopsis novaehollandiaeBrant GooseBrant GooseBranta bernicla
White-backed Duck

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by John Gale. ↗

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