Musk Duck vs Black-headed Duck

Biziura lobata مقارنةً بـ Heteronetta atricapilla

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Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Musk Duck Black-headed Duck
الاسم العلمي Biziura lobata Heteronetta atricapilla
الرتبة Anseriformes Anseriformes
الفصيلة Anatidae Anatidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Least Concern
الطول
طول الجناح 42,3 cm (16.7 in) 34,7 cm (13.7 in)
الوزن 1930,75 g (68.11 oz) 528,5 g (18.64 oz)
النظام الغذائي Dives for aquatic invertebrates, small fish, and plant material in Australian freshwater lakes. Highly aquatic; … Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet …
عدد البيض في الوضع 2-3 2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Musk Duck only

Black-headed Duck only

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Song & Call Comparison

Musk Duck

الغناء

Male produces a loud, explosive plonk call followed by bill-drumming on the water surface; female gives a harsh quack. The male's bizarre splashing display is unique and unmistakable among Australian …

Black-headed Duck

الغناء

Male gives a soft, raspy peeping note; female produces a muted quack. An obligate brood parasite with reduced vocalizations; subdued calls suit its secretive lifestyle among Argentine reeds.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Musk Duck

Endemic to southern Australia, including southeastern and southwestern regions. Found on wetlands with lignum and reeds.

Black-headed Duck

Resident in southern South America from southern Brazil and Bolivia south to Argentina and Chile. Found on lakes and marshes in open lowlands.

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حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Musk Duck

Least Concern

Black-headed Duck

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How to Tell Them Apart

Musk Duck

الريش

Both sexes are uniformly dark sooty-brown, densely barred and vermiculated with black; male has distinctive pendulous black lobe hanging below bill. Females and immatures are smaller and lack the lobe.

Black-headed Duck

الريش

Male has distinctive jet-black head and neck, warm chestnut-brown back, and pale buff underparts; blue-grey bill with red base. Female is streaked brown above with pale supercilium and whitish underparts.

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About These Birds

Musk Duck

Australia's largest stiff-tailed duck (~1.9 kg), family Anatidae, males bearing a leathery lobe pendant from the bill. Inhabits deep permanent freshwater lakes and swamps in southern Australia. Males emit a musky odor during courtship displays. Dives for fish, frogs, crustaceans, and mollusks. Least Concern; solitary and rarely seen due to secretive behavior.

Black-headed Duck

A small diving duck (~530 g) of South America, family Anatidae, and the sole member of genus Heteronetta. Inhabits freshwater marshes and lakes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Unique among waterfowl as an obligate brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of coots and other waterbirds. Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern.

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