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Knob-billed duck
The knob‑billed duck, also known as the comb duck, is a large and distinctive waterfowl species found across Africa and South Asia. It inhabits freshwater lakes, marshes, floodplains, and quiet river backwaters, where it spends much of its time feeding and resting on open water or nearby wetlands. Males are easily recognised by the prominent black knob on their bill, which becomes most noticeable during the breeding season.
You can find our knob-billed ducks on the lake.
Class:
Aves
Order:
Anseriformes
Family:
Anatidae
About the knob-billed duck
Knob‑billed ducks are omnivores, feeding on aquatic vegetation, seeds, grasses, and a wide range of invertebrates. They forage by dabbling at the water’s surface or grazing along wetland edges. Their strong wings and buoyant bodies make them capable fliers and confident swimmers, often travelling between feeding and roosting sites.
Outside the breeding season, knob‑billed ducks are usually seen in flocks, sometimes gathering in large numbers. During breeding, pairs form and males display prominently using their bill knob to attract females. Nesting typically occurs in tree hollows or dense vegetation near water.
Conservation
The knob‑billed duck is listed as Least Concern on a global scale, although populations in parts of Africa and South Asia are affected by hunting and wetland loss. Drainage of marshes, pollution, and expanding agriculture reduce the quality of feeding and breeding sites. The species benefits from legal protection in several countries, along with broader wetland conservation efforts aimed at preserving healthy freshwater ecosystems.