African Black Duck

Afrikaans name: Swarteend

Anas sparsa

The African Black Duck can be found over most of South Africa with the exception of the very dry regions in the west. They tend to live their lives in the same area and do not travel far.

Most of their food comprises of insects and other invertebrates. They do also eat some plants. It has also been recorded catching and eating small fish.

The female builds a nest near water and she normally lays between 4 and 11 eggs.

African Black Ducks are timid birds and will fly if disturbed. They prefer quieter stretches of rivers where they may often be seen in pairs.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	95	Anas sparsa sparsa
2nd	95	Anas sparsa
3rd	95	Anas sparsa
4th	95	Anas sparsa
5th	105	Anas sparsa
6th	105	Anas sparsa
7th	31	Anas sparsa

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	95	African Black Duck
2nd	95	Black Duck
3rd	95	Black Duck
4th	95	Black Duck
5th	105	African Black Duck
6th	105	African Black Duck
7th	31	African Black Duck

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	95	Swart-eend
2nd	95	Swart Eend
3rd	95	Swart Eend
4th	95	Swart Eend
5th	105	Swarteend
6th	105	Swarteend
7th	31	Swarteend

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 39

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 42

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 35

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 32

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 8

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 76

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 78

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 86

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 67

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 85

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 61

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 94

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 48

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 28

Newman s Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 94

Ian Sinclair s Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 66

Gamebirds of Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: P.A. Clancey - Published: 1967 - Page: 25

Gamebirds and Waterfowl of Southern Africa - Author: CG Finch-Davies, Dr Alan Kemp - Published: 1986 - Page: 53

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 130

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 44

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 48

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 12

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 33

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 11

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 36

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 38

Birds of the Kruger and other National Parks - Volume 4 - Author: National Parks Board - Published: 1974 - Page: 12

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 34

Birds of Africa south of the Sahara - Author: Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan - Published: 2003 - Page: 66

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 57

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 169

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 169

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 54

A Coloured Key to the Wildfowl of the World - Author: Peter Scott - Published: 1957 - Page: 54

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds