# Comb Duck (*Sarkidiornis sylvicola*) The Comb Duck is a unique bird with a big, fluffy crest on its head. It loves to swim in wetlands and can often be seen waddling around looking for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Sarkidiornis ![Comb Duck](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Amerikanische_H%C3%B6ckerglanzgans_Sarkidiornis_sylvicola_05_%281%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: BS Thurner Hof, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amerikanische_H%C3%B6ckerglanzgans_Sarkidiornis_sylvicola_05_%281%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Comb Duck is a large duck with iridescent blue-black upperparts and a contrasting white belly. Males have a distinctive, large, fleshy black knob (or 'comb') on their bill, making them stand out from females and other ducks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Sarkidiornis ## Interesting facts - A group of Comb Ducks can be called a 'paddling' or 'raft' when on water! - Comb Ducks sometimes lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species! - Despite being ducks, they prefer to build their nests in tree cavities or abandoned nests. - Its unique comb swells up and becomes even more colorful when it's time to find a partner! ## Special abilities - **Comb Communicator:** Comb Duck males have a unique fleshy comb that helps them attract mates during the breeding season. - **Aquatic Acrobat:** Comb Ducks can swim gracefully and dive efficiently for food, using strong webbed feet to navigate wetlands. - **Tree Percher:** This duck often perches in trees, an unusual trait for many duck species, helping them scan for danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 56-76 cm - **Wingspan:** 116-142 cm - **Weight:** 0.6-2.9 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 75 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 7-15 - **Incubation:** 28-32 days ## Diet & Feeding This duck eats a mix of yummy aquatic plants, seeds, and small water creatures. - **Age differences:** Ducklings initially eat more protein-rich insects, shifting towards more plant matter as adults. - **Primary Foods:** aquatic plants, seeds, grasses, aquatic insects, small fish, larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-alligator) (*Alligator mississippiensis*) — Large reptiles prey on ducklings and adult Comb Ducks. - **Eaten by:** [Bald Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bald-eagle) (*Haliaeetus leucocephalus*) — Large raptors can catch ducks from the sky or water. - **Eats:** White Water Lily (*Nymphaea alba*) — Feeds on seeds and vegetative parts of aquatic plants. - **Depends on:** Broadleaf Cattail (*Typha latifolia*) — Provides nesting cover and foraging areas in wetland habitats. ## Traits - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Comb Duck? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Comb Duck? 56-76 cm ### What is Comb Duck's wingspan? 116-142 cm ### How much does Comb Duck weigh? 0.6-2.9 kg ### How long does Comb Duck live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Comb Duck move? 75 km/h ### What does Comb Duck eat? This duck eats a mix of yummy aquatic plants, seeds, and small water creatures. ### Where is Comb Duck usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Comb Duck: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/comb-duck)