Mexican Duck
Anas diazi
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusAnas (Mallards, Pintails, and Allies)
- SpeciesAnas diazi (Mexican Duck)
About the Mexican Duck
The Mexican duck (Anas diazi) is a species of dabbling duck that breeds in Mexico and the southwestern United States. Most of the population is resident, but some northern birds migrate south to Mexico in winter. The species also occurs widely, but in limited numbers, in Colorado in all seasons and there are photographs of birds referable to this taxon from Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana.
Mexican Ducks reside in almost all aquatic habitats. The bird has a length of 45–55 cm (17.7–21.6 in) and a weight of 849–1,243 g (1.872–2.740 lb) The Mexican duck is mainly brown, with a blue speculum edged with white, obvious in flight or at rest. The male has a brighter yellow bill than the female.
The Mexican duck was considered a subspecies of the mallard, as Anas platyrhynchos diazi until 2020, when the American Ornithological Society determined the Mexican Duck to be its own species. Analysis of mtDNA control region sequence data—taking into account hybridization events—indicates it is the southwestern relative of the American black duck and shares a fairly recent common ancestry with this species (McCracken et al. 2001).... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Saguaro National Park
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Green-winged Teal
Anas carolinensis
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeata
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Cinnamon Teal
Spatula cyanoptera
Gadwall
Mareca strepera
Blue-winged Teal
Spatula discors
Snow Goose
Anser caerulescens
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big Bend National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Saguaro National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 4 | Death Valley National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Mexican Duck in Saguaro National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mexican Duck sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 4,327 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Mexican Duck in Saguaro National Park?
November has the highest sighting rate for Mexican Duck in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.