Laysan Duck
CR

Laysan Duck

Anas laysanensis

Increasing

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laysan_duck

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Laysan Duck faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on just two Hawaiian islands, making it vulnerable to catastrophic events. Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and rats, prey on eggs and ducklings, while non-native plants alter wetland habitats. Climate change poses additional risks through sea-level rise and increased storm intensity, which could eliminate critical freshwater habitats on low-lying Laysan Island.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Laysan Duck inhabits shallow freshwater and brackish wetlands, including natural ponds, seeps, and artificial water sources on low coral atolls. It forages in emergent vegetation around pond margins and in adjacent terrestrial areas with native bunch grasses.

Wetlands (inland)· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent freshwater lakes· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protectionHabitat & natural process restorationSpecies recoverySpecies reintroductionLegislation

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Laysan Duck classified as Critically Endangered?
Laysan Duck is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Laysan Duck faces severe threats from its extremely restricted range on just two Hawaiian islands, making it vulnerable to catastrophic events. Introduced predators, particularly feral cats and rats, prey on eggs and ducklings, while non-native plants alter wetland habitats. Climate change poses additional risks through sea-level rise and increased storm intensity, which could eliminate critical freshwater habitats on low-lying Laysan Island.
Where does Laysan Duck live?
Laysan Duck occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Laysan Duck?
The main threats to Laysan Duck are 10.2, 11.1, 11.2, and 11.4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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