Least Concern Birds

Comb Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Comb Duck is a large duck with a knobbed bill found in African wetlands.

Scientific name	Sarkidiornis melanotos
Swahili name	Bata ya kifaru
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Anseriformes
Family	Anatidae
Size	Male: 1.1-1.3 kg; Female: 0.9-1.1 kg

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How to identify

Distinct knob-like protuberance on the crown and base of the bill (especially prominent in males); body plumage white with black spots and stripes; large body size with a relatively short and thick neck; bill broad and flat; in flight, wide wingspan with conspicuous white markings under the wings

Habitat

Freshwater lakes, swamps, rivers, and wetlands; commonly found in water bodies near sparsely wooded savannas

Diet

Omnivorous, primarily feeding on aquatic plants, seeds, small aquatic invertebrates, and insects

When it is active

Diurnal, frequently active during the day, especially at dawn and dusk

Where it lives

Widely distributed across tropical Africa including Kenya and Maasai Mara National Reserve; also found in parts of South Asia

How to spot it

Observe at dawn or dusk at wetland edges, paying attention to the male’s knob on the head; use binoculars or telephoto lenses to capture details

Photography tips

Utilize natural wetland lighting, preferably soft light at dawn or dusk; capturing flight poses and water reflections is ideal; attempt close-up shots of the knob on the head

Threats

Habitat loss and wetland degradation; localized hunting pressure

Similar species

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), distinguished by the knob-billed duck’s male having a prominent knob on the head and larger body size; White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) is smaller with different plumage and vocalizations

📖 how to spot the comb duck on safari