Brazilian Teal vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Amazonetta brasiliensis compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brazilian Teal | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazonetta brasiliensis | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 36.1 cm (14.2 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 468.0 g (16.51 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates and seeds; diet shifts toward plant material outside breeding season; forages … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 6-11 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Brazilian Teal only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
None
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brazilian Teal
Breeds in Eurasia and winters in tropical regions from Africa to Southeast Asia. Migratory over broad fronts.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Brazilian Teal
Spotted Whistling-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 …
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.