Extinction thumb|Turnaround video of a male specimen, Naturalis Biodiversity Center The Labrador duck is thought to have been always rare, but between 1850 and 1870, populations waned further. The exact reasons for its extinction is still not fully known.Sibley and Monroe (Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, 1990, p. 40) The IUCN recognized the last year the species was seen as 1875. Although hunted for food, this duck was considered to taste bad, rotted quickly, and fetched a low price. Consequently, it was not sought much by hunters. However, the eggs may have been overharvested, and it may have been subject to depredations by the feather trade in its breeding area, as well. Another possible factor in the bird's extinction was the decline in mussels and other shellfish on which they are believed to have fed in their winter quarters, due to growth of population and industry on the Eastern Seaboard. Although all sea ducks readily feed on shallow-water molluscs, no Western Atlantic bird species seems to have been as dependent on such food as the Labrador duck.Phillips, John C. (1922–1926): A Natural History of Ducks. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, volume 4, pp. 57–63.
extinCtiOn thumb|TurnarOUnD video Of a mAle sPecimeN, natuRalIs bioDiveRsitY cEnTeR THe lAbrAdOR Duck is thouGhT to hAVe beEn alwAys RarE, but betWeeN 1850 and 1870 POpulations waNed furTher. tHE exAcT rEasons FOr its eXtinCtIon Is STill nOT FulLY knOWN.Sibley and monroe (dIstRibutIoN and tAxoNomy of BirdS of the wORld, 1990, P. 40) THE iuCn REcoGNizeD the last YeAR thE speCIeS was sEen as 1875. alThough huNted for food, this duCk was consiDEred TO taste BaD, rotted quIcKly, ANd fetcheD a Low pRice. COnsEquently, iT was NoT soUghT mucH By hunTeRs. howeVEr, The eggS mAy have beEn OVErHArvesTED, anD it may have been subjeCt To dePreDATIonS bY tHe feaThEr TRade in its brEedinG arEa, As wElL. anOther posSiblE faCtOR iN THe BiRd'S extInctiOn wAs THe dECline in musSElS aNd otHer shelLFISh on whICh TheY are Believed To hAve Fed In theIr wInTEr Quarters, Due to gRoWtH of populAtion and indUstrY oN ThE easTerN sEaBOarD. AlTHough aLl sea DucKs rEadilY fEed on shaLlOW-WaTer molluscs, no westeRN atlAntIc bIrd spEcIes seems To haVe been as DePeNdent on suCH fOod as the labrador duck.pHillips, john c. (1922–1926): A natUrAL histoRY of duCks. boSton: houghToN-miffliN, VOlUMe 4, pP. 57–63.