Sometimes a first year hen duck will leave her nest before all have hatch. Many time eggs left behind are close to/or near hatching and will continue to hatch. Then seek their own way without mother to show/protect them where/what to eat-so they end up as easy prey for predators.

They look like ducklings of domestic black Muscovy (close to wild Muscovy of South/Central Americas).?. Their bills are short/wide-usually wild species of North America have long narrow bills for dabbling.

There are so many species of ducks that have that color pattern as ducklings--Too bad they died--would have been interesting to watch a mystery unfold as they developed their adult plumage.

Look about the local parks/areas that have ponds--see if you can find other ducklings that look like them. Good Luck!

Hello,

Thanks! Well, I'm guessing that the duckling was probably a wild duckling. I'm just so sorry that it died. /: