Eastern Spot-billed Duck

It was spinning around, carried by the river current.

Scientific name	Anas zonorhyncha
English name	Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Japanese name	軽鴨
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes
Family	Anatidae
Genus	Anas
Species	zonorhyncha
Full length	51-64cm
Distribution	Inhabits Honshu and southward.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Characteristics and Morphology

A duck about 60cm in length. The entire body is brown. Males and females look alike.
No crest; the head is rounded. The crown and eye-stripe are dark brown, while the areas above and below the eyes are pale brown. The beak is black with a yellow tip. Irises are also black. The body appears somewhat plump. The back is dark brown, and the speculum is a lustrous blue or emerald green. From the neck to the breast, it is pale brown with scattered brown spots. There are white feathers on the tertials. The silhouette of the tail feathers is spread out during flight. The legs are orange.

Song

Calls with a "ga-ga" or "gue-gue" sound.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Ecology

Habitat

Inhabits areas within the human sphere such as rivers, estuaries, rice paddies, and park ponds, as well as grasslands along urban rivers and watersides.

Food

Eats plant seeds and pond snails.

Life Cycle

From spring to summer, they build nests in grasslands along urban rivers and swim with about 10 ducklings. The ducklings are precocial and follow the parent bird immediately after hatching.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Photos

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Photos are introduced.
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Botanical gardens in Queenstown, New Zealand.

A parent and ducklings swimming together.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Behavior

They live in groups near the water. They typically rest or sit during the day and become active at night.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Information

Naming

The scientific name "zonorhyncha" means "banded beak," likely because the yellow part of the beak looks like a band.

They are also considered a nuisance bird as they trample and eat rice crops.

Eastern Spot-billed Duck Found Locations

Nogawa River, Chofu City

Found swimming in the Nogawa River in Chofu City. It was spinning around as it was carried by the river current. They are commonly seen in calm rivers and ponds, and they won't fly away if humans approach, as long as a certain distance is maintained.