African Black Duck vs Masked Duck

Anas sparsa مقارنةً بـ Nomonyx dominicus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة African Black Duck Masked Duck
الاسم العلمي Anas sparsa Nomonyx dominicus
الرتبة Anseriformes Anseriformes
الفصيلة Anatidae Anatidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 49,5 cm (19.5 in) 27,6 cm (10.9 in)
الوزن 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) 361,0 g (12.73 oz)
النظام الغذائي Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … Dives and dabbles for aquatic seeds, plant matter, and invertebrates in freshwater marshes and ponds …
عدد البيض في الوضع 4-9 4-6
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

African Black Duck only

بلا

Masked Duck 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.

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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.

Masked Duck

الغناء

Male emits a soft, dove-like cooing note; female gives a harsh, emphatic quack. The male's gentle, almost melodic cooing is surprising for a stiff-tail; heard in tropical American marshes.

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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.

Masked Duck

Resident from Mexico and the Caribbean south through Central America to northern South America. Found in lowland freshwater marshes and lagoons.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

African Black Duck

Least Concern

Masked Duck

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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 …

Masked Duck

الريش

Male is rich rufous-chestnut with black mask from forehead to face, boldly spotted black on upperparts; blue bill. Female is streaked buff and brown with two dark facial stripes crossing …

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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.

Masked Duck

A small stiff-tailed duck (~360 g) of family Anatidae, breeding males with a black mask and chestnut body. Inhabits densely vegetated freshwater marshes and ponds from southern Texas to South America and the Caribbean. Dives for seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Secretive and rarely observed. Least Concern; tolerates a broad range of wetland habitats.

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