Andaman Teal vs Brent Goose
Anas albogularis compared with Branta bernicla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andaman Teal | Brent Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas albogularis | Branta bernicla |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.4 cm (14.7 in) | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) |
| Weight | 370.0 g (13.05 oz) | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates by diving; diet dominated by hard-shelled benthic invertebrates. | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … |
| Clutch Size | 7-8 | 1-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Andaman Teal
Freshwater pools, rice paddies, coastal marshes, and mangrove-fringed inlets on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal. Non-migratory; restricted entirely to this island group.
Brent Goose
Breeds on high-Arctic tundra; winters on estuaries, coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and sea-grass beds along Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. One of the most strictly coastal wintering geese.
Song & Call Comparison
Andaman Teal
Female produces a soft, descending quacking series; male gives a subdued whistle. Low-pitched, unobtrusive calls rarely heard; this Near Threatened island teal is generally quiet.
Brent Goose
A low, guttural 'rronk' or 'ronk-ronk' from flocks. Soft nasal calls in feeding groups. A subtle, understated call for a goose — less loud than most Anser geese.
Geographic Range & Migration
Andaman Teal
Breeds in boreal forest wetlands of central Canada; winters along the Atlantic coast from New England to the Caribbean.
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Conservation Status
Andaman Teal
Brent Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Andaman Teal
Dark brown mottled plumage; pale throat and face contrasting with dark crown. Iridescent green speculum. Bill gray; legs grayish. Sexes similar. Endemic to Andaman Islands; near-threatened island population.
Brent Goose
Small; mostly black head, neck, and breast. Small white neck-patch on adults. Back dark brownish-gray; belly pale gray to white depending on subspecies. White undertail coverts. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Andaman Teal
A small dark brown teal with a white throat and chin patch, green speculum, and dark bill. Endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Vulnerable; threatened by habitat loss and hunting. One of the least-known ducks in Asia.
Brent Goose
A small dark-bodied goose with a black head and neck, small white neck patches, and pale grey belly. Migrates between high-Arctic breeding grounds and temperate coastal wintering areas. Feeds on eel-grass and saltmarsh vegetation in winter. Three subspecies differ in belly coloration.