Brazilian Teal vs African Black Duck
Amazonetta brasiliensis compared with Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brazilian Teal | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazonetta brasiliensis | Anas sparsa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.1 cm (14.2 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 468.0 g (16.51 oz) | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Diet | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates and seeds; diet shifts toward plant material outside breeding season; forages … | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … |
| Clutch Size | 6-11 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Brazilian Teal
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, flooded forest, and rice paddies across tropical and subtropical South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to northern Argentina. Tolerates natural and agricultural wetlands.
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.
Song & Call Comparison
Brazilian Teal
Male produces a nasal, whistled wheee-oh note; female gives a short, sharp quack. Pairs call back and forth with clear whistled exchanges along Amazonian rivers.
African Black Duck
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brazilian Teal
Breeds in Eurasia and winters in tropical regions from Africa to Southeast Asia. Migratory over broad fronts.
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Conservation Status
Brazilian Teal
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Brazilian Teal
Males have red bill and legs; brown body with dark brown back, gray head, buff-white face, and dark crown. Females have pale supercilium and paler face. Both show iridescent green …
African Black Duck
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 …
About These Birds
Brazilian Teal
A small compact teal with brown plumage, red bill and legs, and males with a distinctive powder-blue speculum. Common in tropical lowland South America. One of the most widespread ducks in Brazil. Found in a wide range of wetland types from flooded forest to open lakes.
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.