Indian Spot-billed Duck
Anas poecilorhyncha
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusAnas (Mallards, Pintails, and Allies)
- SpeciesAnas poecilorhyncha (Indian Spot-billed Duck)
About the Indian Spot-billed Duck
The Indian spot-billed duck (Anas poecilorhyncha) is a species of large dabbling duck that is a non-migratory breeding duck throughout freshwater wetlands in the Indian subcontinent. The name is derived from the red spot at the base of the bill that is found in the mainland Indian population. When in water it can be recognized from a long distance by the white tertials that form a stripe on the side, and in flight it is distinguished by the green speculum with a broad white band at the base. This species and the eastern spot-billed duck (A. zonorhyncha) were formerly considered conspecific, together called the spot-billed duck (A. poecilorhyncha).
The Indian spot-billed duck was described by the naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster in 1781 under its current binomial name Anas poecilorhyncha. The name of the genus Anas is the Latin word for a duck. The specific epithet poecilorhyncha combines the classical Greek words poikilos meaning "pied" or "spotted" and rhunkhos meaning a "bill".
A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2009 that compared mitochondrial DNA sequences from ducks, geese and swans in the family Anatidae found that the Indian spot-billed duck was a sister... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Indian Spot-billed Duck in Chitwan National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Chitwan National Park
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Eastern Spot-billed Duck
Anas zonorhyncha
Ruddy Shelduck
Tadorna ferruginea
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Lesser Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna javanica
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Bar-headed Goose
Anser indicus
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Red-crested Pochard
Netta rufina
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelope
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keoladeo National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 2 | Kaziranga National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 3 | Bandipur National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 4 | Nagarhole National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 5 | Mudumalai National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 6 | Satpura National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 7 | Ranthambore National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 8 | Gir National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 9 | Khao Yai National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 10 | Kanha National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 11 | Jim Corbett National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 12 | Chitwan National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 13 | Bandhavgarh National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 14 | Royal Bardia National Park | 🇳🇵 Nepal | |
| 15 | Manas National Park | 🇮🇳 India | |
| 16 | Royal Manas National Park | 🇧🇹 Bhutan |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Indian Spot-billed Duck in Chitwan National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Indian Spot-billed Duck sighting in Chitwan National Park, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Indian Spot-billed Duck in Chitwan National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Indian Spot-billed Duck in Chitwan National Park in our monthly data.