White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
GenusThalassornis
SpeciesThalassornis leuconotus (White-backed Duck)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Ngorongoro Conservation Area

2 Verified sightings at Ngorongoro Conservation Area From 2019 to 2026

1,034 Verified sightings across all 32 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the White-backed Duck

The white-backed duck (Thalassornis leuconotus) is a waterbird of the family Anatidae. It is distinct from all other ducks, but most closely related to the whistling ducks in the subfamily Dendrocygninae, though also showing some similarities to the stiff-tailed ducks in the subfamily Oxyurinae. It is the only member of the genus Thalassornis.

These birds are well adapted for diving. On occasions they have been observed to stay under water for up to half a minute. They search especially for the bulbs of waterlilies, but also seeds and leaves of waterlilies and other water plants and the young feed on lake flies larvae as well. From danger, they also escape preferentially by diving; hence, the namesake white back is hardly visible in life.

White-backed ducks live in Africa, especially between Senegal and Chad in the west, Ethiopia in the east, and South Africa in the south. Their habitat consists of lakes, ponds, swamps and marshes where they are well camouflaged against predators.

There are two subspecies, Thalassornis leuconotus leuconotus and Thalassornis leuconotus insularis. The latter lives entirely on Madagascar... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Anas capensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Anas erythrorhyncha

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Plectropterus gambensis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Spatula hottentota

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Dendrocygna viduata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Spatula clypeata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Netta erythrophthalma

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Cairina moschata

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Anas undulata

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~30%
2	Arusha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~10%
3	Amboseli National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%
4	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
5	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
6	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	<5%
7	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
8	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	<5%
9	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
10	Virunga National Park	🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo	<5%
11	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
12	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	Insufficient data
13	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
14	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	Insufficient data
15	Volcanoes National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
16	Lake Mburo National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
17	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
18	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
19	Kidepo Valley National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
20	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
21	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	Insufficient data
22	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
23	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	Insufficient data
24	Kafue National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
25	Bwindi Impenetrable National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
26	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data
27	South Luangwa National Park	🇿🇲 Zambia	Insufficient data
28	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
29	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
30	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	Insufficient data
31	Queen Elizabeth National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	Insufficient data
32	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	Insufficient data

← Back to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

White-backed Duck

About the White-backed Duck

Recent sightings of White-backed Duck in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Closest Relatives at Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Egyptian Goose

Cape Teal

Red-billed Teal

Spur-winged Goose

Hottentot Teal

White-faced Whistling Duck

Fulvous Whistling-Duck

Northern Shoveler

Southern Pochard

Muscovy Duck

Comb Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found