Mottled Duck

The Mottled Duck is a dabbling duck resident to the Gulf Coast of the United States and Mexico, along with a distinct population in Florida. It closely resembles a female Mallard in overall mottled brown plumage, which can make feather identification tricky without attention to a few key details.

One of its most useful features is a plain, unstreaked pale buff throat and face, in contrast to the finely streaked head shown by both Mallards and American Black Ducks.

Feathers can be recognized by their warm buffy-brown mottled pattern, a blue speculum patch that often lacks the bold white borders typical of Mallard speculum feathers, and, in the field, a bill color that differs between males (yellow) and females (orange with dark markings).

Size and shape

• Dabbling-duck body and wing feathers similar in size and shape to Mallard and Black Duck feathers
• Broad, squared wingtips typical of dabbling ducks

Color and pattern

• Body feathers buffy-brown with dark mottling, generally warmer and paler than the very dark American Black Duck
• Throat and face feathers plain, unstreaked pale buff, a key difference from the streaked heads of Mallard and Black Duck
• Speculum feathers blue, often with little to no white border, unlike the boldly white-bordered Mallard speculum

Distinguishing from similar species

• Compare with American Black Duck: Mottled Duck is paler and warmer-toned with a plain throat, while Black Duck is darker with a streaked head
• Compare with female Mallard: Mottled Duck lacks the bold white borders on the speculum and has a plainer face

Both sexes show a similar mottled buffy-brown plumage, again unusual among dabbling ducks where sexes are typically more different. Males have a clean yellow bill, while females show an orange bill with variable dark blotching. Juveniles resemble adults but with softer feather edges and less defined mottling. Molt follows the typical dabbling-duck pattern with a flightless period during wing molt.

Resident along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida, into parts of Mexico, plus a separate population centered in Florida. It favors coastal marshes, brackish wetlands, and freshwater impoundments. Unlike many dabbling ducks, it is largely non-migratory, remaining in its home range year-round.

Feeds by dabbling and tipping up in shallow water for aquatic vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates. Nests on the ground in marsh vegetation close to water. Voice is a typical Anas quack, similar to a Mallard's. Because it readily hybridizes with feral and wild Mallards in parts of its range, some individuals show intermediate features, which is worth keeping in mind when identifying a found feather in areas where both species overlap.