Current view: Data table and detailed info
Taxonomic note
Apparently closely related to A. luzonica, A. zonorhyncha and A. poecilorhyncha. Probable unstable hybrids of present species and A. platyrhynchos, found on some Micronesian islands, have elsewhere been considered a different species, Mariana Duck (A. oustaleti). Hybridization with several species of Anas recorded in captivity, and with at least A. platyrhynchos (producing fertile progeny) in the wild; in New Zealand more than 25% of population may be hybrids. In survey of Lord Howe I in 2007, no pure individuals of present species were found, but A. platyrhynchos had supplanted native A. superciliosa and become dominant: 81% of ducks were platyrhynchos or platyrhynchos-like hybrids, 17% intermediate hybrids, and just 2% superciliosa-like hybrids (Tracey et al. 2008). Several subspecies described, including rogersi (Indonesian region, S New Guinea, Australia), pelewensis (N New Guinea and islands of SW Pacific), and, from Chuuk, rukensis (generally synonymized with pelewensis), leaving nominate superciliosa in New Zealand and on island groups of Chatham, Bounty, Antipodes, Snares, Auckland and Campbell; all poorly defined and considered barely, if at all, diagnosable (Kear 2005). In view also of extensive hybridization, it seems unwise to persist in recognizing subspecies (Rhymer et al. 2004). Treated as monotypic.
Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.
IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Red List history
| Migratory status |
not a migrant |
Forest dependency |
does not normally occur in forest |
| Land-mass type |
|
Average mass |
- |
Population justification: The global population size is estimated at 180,001-1,175,000 individuals (Wetlands International 2023), which equates to 120,000-783,000 mature individuals. The overall population trend is suspected to be decreasing over three generations (16.92 years) (Wetlands International 2023).
Trend justification: .
Country/territory distribution
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/pacific-black-duck-anas-superciliosa on 18/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 18/12/2024.
