Hawaiian Duck Identification

A dark, medium-sized dabbling duck. Male is dark brown, with distinctive chevrons on the breast, back, and flanks. Many males have a thin white eyering.

Female is lighter in color than male, and typically has a dark line through the eye.

A small, rare dabbling duck found only in the Hawaiian Islands. Female is smaller and darker than female Mallard, with a dark bill. Most females have a dark stripe through the eye, bordered by a buffy stripe above the eye. Female alone cares for ducklings, which leave the nest shortly after hatching.

Dabbles from the water surface in search of aquatic invertebrates and plants.

Occurs in taro fields, ponds, managed wetlands, mountain streams, plunge pools, and ephemeral wetlands.