In addition to the first population genomic assessment of African Yellow-billed Duck and African Black Ducks, we also use morphological features to build out a field key to identify between sexes of these monochromatic species. We demonstrate clear population structure between these two species, and while hybridization rates are near-zero did recover the first confirmed and highly backcrossed yellow-billed x african black duck hybrid. We also provide a field key that is >95% accurate in sex identification when considering mass and bill length only.

This work would not have been possible without the help of Ramsey Russell who did the diligent work of data and sample collection while in South Africa…so shout out to the research arm of GetDucks.

To cite this article: Philip Lavretsky, Ramsey Russell, Sara Gonzalez, Vergie M Musni, Alexis Díaz & Joshua I Brown (19 Jun 2025): Evolution, population structure and morphology of the African Black Duck Anas sparsa and Yellow-billed Duck A. undulata, Ostrich, DOI: 10.2989/00306525.2025.2509215

Link to this article: https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2025.2509215