The knob-billed duck or African comb duck is a type of duck found along the tropical/sub-tropical wetlands and waterways of Sub-Saharan Africa and the island of Madagascar, as well as most of South Asia and mainland Indochina.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa and South to Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Inhabits freshwater wetlands including floodplains, large lakes with vegetated margins, marshes, slow-flowing rivers, and seasonal pans. Frequently uses rice paddies and other agricultural wetlands, especially after rains. Prefers open water with nearby trees for roosting and nesting. Avoids strong currents and very deep water, favoring shallow zones for dabbling and grazing.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the African comb duck or comb duck, males develop a prominent black knob at the base of the bill during the breeding season. It often perches and nests in tree cavities, unusual behavior for a duck of its size. Populations track seasonal rains and can gather in large flocks on productive wetlands.
Temperament
social and alert
Flight Pattern
strong flier with steady, powerful wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often forms small to large flocks outside the breeding season and roosts communally, frequently in trees. Breeds in the rainy season; nests are usually in tree cavities or on large branches. Females typically incubate while males may guard nearby; brood mixing and creching can occur in rich wetlands.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Generally quiet, but males give wheezy whistles and hissing notes during displays. Both sexes produce low grunts and soft quacks in flight or when alarmed.
Plumage
Boldly pied; white body with dark, glossy upperparts and wings, and a speckled head and neck. Iridescent green to purplish sheen on the scapulars and wing coverts. Males show a large black basal knob on the bill in breeding season.
Diet
Feeds by dabbling and grazing on aquatic vegetation, seeds, grasses, and crops such as rice. Also consumes aquatic invertebrates including insects, snails, and small crustaceans, especially during the breeding season when protein needs increase. Opportunistic forager that shifts diet with water levels and local productivity.
Preferred Environment
Shallow margins of lakes and marshes, flooded grasslands, and quiet backwaters. Regularly forages in agricultural fields adjacent to wetlands, especially recently flooded areas.
