African Black Duck vs African Pygmy-goose

Anas sparsa مقارنةً بـ Nettapus auritus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة African Black Duck African Pygmy-goose
الاسم العلمي Anas sparsa Nettapus auritus
الرتبة Anseriformes Anseriformes
الفصيلة Anatidae Anatidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 49,5 cm (19.5 in) 29,9 cm (11.8 in)
الوزن 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) 272,5 g (9.61 oz)
النظام الغذائي Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding …
عدد البيض في الوضع 4-9 6-12
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

African Black Duck only

African Pygmy-goose only

بلا

African Black Duck

Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.

African Pygmy-goose

Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.

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Song & Call Comparison

African Black Duck

الغناء

Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.

African Pygmy-goose

الغناء

Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.

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Geographic Range & Migration

African Black Duck

Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.

African Pygmy-goose

Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

African Black Duck

Least Concern

African Pygmy-goose

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Black Duck

الريش

Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …

African Pygmy-goose

الريش

Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.

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About These Birds

African Black Duck

A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.

African Pygmy-goose

A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.

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