American Black Duck Population Analysis
American Black Duck has collapsed: down 95% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
About the American Black Duck
The American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) is a North American member of the Ducks, Geese & Waterfowl (Anatidae). In this analysis it is grouped with the waterfowl.
- Size
- 12–43.5 in long (30–110 cm) — a medium to large waterfowl (typical for the family)
- Habitat
- Lakes, ponds, rivers, marshes and sheltered coastal waters.
- Diet
- Aquatic plants, seeds and invertebrates, dabbled at the surface or dived for.
- Range
- Recorded on 356 Breeding Bird Survey routes across 21 states, most concentrated in the Atlantic Northern Forest.
- Family
- Anatidae · Waterfowl
Notable American Black Duck TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
American Black Duck has collapsed in surveyed states: down 94% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
American Black Duck Population Forecast
If the recent trend holds, American Black Duck is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.04). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±458.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.
Where the American Black Duck Is Detected
BBS routes recording American Black Duck, sized by most recent count.
American Black Duck Population Trend by State
American Black Duck Population Trend by Region
Bird Conservation Regions are the ecological unit for trends.
American Black Duck Conservation Status
Our route-weighted index shows it down about 94% since 1968.
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. Trend is a route-weighted relative-abundance index, not an absolute population.