Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Laysan duck (Anas laysanensis)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Laysan duck is so-called as it is endemic to the Hawaiian island of Laysan. It is a small, dark duck with orange legs and a slight green iridescence to the dark head. In males, the brown wings have a green patch (known as the mirror) bordered with black and white and the bill is greenish. In females the mirror is dark brown and the bill is brownish-yellow. Juveniles are similar in appearance to females. Males produce whistling calls and the female quacks.

Lead Region:  Pacific Region (Region 1)
Date Listed: Mar 11, 1967

  • States/US Territories in which the Laysan duck is known to occur:  Hawaii
  • US Counties in which the Laysan duck is known to occur:  View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Laysan duck is known to occur:  HAWAIIAN ISLANDS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • For more information:  http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/life_histories/B006.html

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 4 of 4 )
Date Citation Page Title
09/22/2009 74 FR 48284 48285 Revised Recovery Plan for the Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis)
07/06/2005 70 FR 38972 38975 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Mariana Fruit Bat (Pteropus mariannus mariannus), Mariana Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis), Kauai Akialoa (Honeycreeper) (Hemignathus procerus), Large Kauai Thrush (Myadestes myadestinus), Kauai Oo (Honeyeater) (Moho braccatus), Ou (Honeycreeper) (Psittirostra psittace), Molokai Creeper (Paroreomyza flammea), Molokai Thrush (Myadestes lanaiensis rutha), Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa anops) Kauai Cave Amphipod (Spelaeorchestia koloana), Alsinidendron obovatum (No Common Name), Amaranthus brownii (No Common Name), Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana (Akoko), Chamaesyce deppeana (Akoko), Chamaesyce herbstii (Akoko), Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. kalaeloana (Ewa Plains Akoko), Clermontia pyrularia (Oha Wai), Cyanea grimesiana ssp. obatae (No Common Name), Cyanea pinnatifida (Haha), Cyanea st.-johnii (Haha), Cyanea superba (Haha), Cyanea truncata (Haha), Cyrtandra dentate (Haiwale), Gouania vitifolia (No Common Name), Hedyotis degeneri (No Common Name), Hibiscadelphus woodii (Hau Kuahiwi), Castilleja levisecta (Golden paintbrush), Fender's Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi), Erigeron decumbens var. decumbens (Willamette Daisy), Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii (Kincaid's Lupine), Lomatium bradshawii (Bradshaw's Desert Parsley), and Sidalcea nelsoniana (Nelson's Checker-mallow)
11/04/2004 69 FR 64317 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Laysan Duck (Anas laysensis)
03/11/1967 32 FR 4001 Endangered Species List - 1967

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/22/2009 Final Revised Recovery Plan for the Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis) View Implementation Progress Final Revision 1
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
09/22/2009 74 FR 48284 48285 Revised Recovery Plan for the Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis)
  • Notice Final Recovery Plan Availability
    • 07/06/2005 70 FR 38972 38975 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of the Mariana Fruit Bat (Pteropus mariannus mariannus), Mariana Crow (Corvus hawaiiensis), Laysan Duck (Anas laysanensis), Kauai Akialoa (Honeycreeper) (Hemignathus procerus), Large Kauai Thrush (Myadestes myadestinus), Kauai Oo (Honeyeater) (Moho braccatus), Ou (Honeycreeper) (Psittirostra psittace), Molokai Creeper (Paroreomyza flammea), Molokai Thrush (Myadestes lanaiensis rutha), Kauai Cave Wolf Spider (Adelocosa anops) Kauai Cave Amphipod (Spelaeorchestia koloana), Alsinidendron obovatum (No Common Name), Amaranthus brownii (No Common Name), Chamaesyce celastroides var. kaenana (Akoko), Chamaesyce deppeana (Akoko), Chamaesyce herbstii (Akoko), Chamaesyce skottsbergii var. kalaeloana (Ewa Plains Akoko), Clermontia pyrularia (Oha Wai), Cyanea grimesiana ssp. obatae (No Common Name), Cyanea pinnatifida (Haha), Cyanea st.-johnii (Haha), Cyanea superba (Haha), Cyanea truncata (Haha), Cyrtandra dentate (Haiwale), Gouania vitifolia (No Common Name), Hedyotis degeneri (No Common Name), Hibiscadelphus woodii (Hau Kuahiwi), Castilleja levisecta (Golden paintbrush), Fender's Blue Butterfly (Icaricia icarioides fenderi), Erigeron decumbens var. decumbens (Willamette Daisy), Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii (Kincaid's Lupine), Lomatium bradshawii (Bradshaw's Desert Parsley), and Sidalcea nelsoniana (Nelson's Checker-mallow)
  • Notice 5-year Review
    • 11/04/2004 69 FR 64317 Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Laysan Duck (Anas laysensis)
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    08/02/2007 Anas laysanensis completed 5-yr review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Laysan duck.

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Laysan duck

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the Laysan duck.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: February 9, 2010