KNOB-BILLED DUCK Sarkidiornis melanotos

An aberrant species, possibly related to Shelducks, but in a genus of two taxa which were formerly lumped. The African bird is found over much of sub-Saharan Africa, but like its relative is local and migratory. Both are considered common, but the only one I have photographed was in Ethiopia. The main distinguishing feature is white or greyish flanks, as opposed to black on South American birds. The captive birds are female, which are smaller than the male and don't get the knob on the bill.

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