Andean Teal vs American Black Duck
Anas andium compared with Anas rubripes
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Andean Teal | American Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas andium | Anas rubripes |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.8 cm (17.6 in) | 53.4 cm (21.0 in) |
| Weight | 457.0 g (16.12 oz) | 1211.25 g (42.73 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in shallow coastal and freshwater habitats; diet varies … | Eats fish and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet shifts toward molluscs … |
| Clutch Size | 5-13 | 1-17 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Andean Teal
High-altitude freshwater lakes, marshes, and boggy streams at 2,500–4,500 m in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Strongly associated with paramo and subpáramo wetlands.
American Black Duck
Freshwater and brackish wetlands in eastern North America from Atlantic Canada south along the coast to Georgia. Breeds in northern bogs and wetlands. Winters on coastal marshes, estuaries, and freshwater lakes.
Song & Call Comparison
Andean Teal
Male gives a clear, whistled note; female produces a soft quacking series. Subdued vocalizations of this high-altitude Andes teal blend with the wind across paramo lakes.
American Black Duck
Female produces a loud, deep quacking series; male gives a low, raspy grunt. Voice is deeper and huskier than a Mallard; pairs call powerfully across northeastern North American wetlands.
Geographic Range & Migration
Andean Teal
Breeds in Arctic and sub-Arctic North America; winters along both US coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Great Lakes.
American Black Duck
Breeds in the steppe zone of Central Asia; winters in South Asia, East Africa, and coastal Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Andean Teal
American Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Andean Teal
Brown body with fine dark spotting; head grayish-brown. Yellow bill with darker culmen. Iridescent green speculum with white front border. Legs grayish-orange. Sexes similar. High-altitude Andean specialist.
American Black Duck
Sooty dark brown body; head and neck paler buff with dark streaking. Iridescent purple speculum without white border. Males have yellow-green bill; females olive with orange blotches. Silvery underwings in …
About These Birds
Andean Teal
A small brown teal with yellow bill and green speculum. Closely related to Yellow-billed Teal; sometimes considered conspecific. Restricted to high-altitude Andean wetlands of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Listed as Near Threatened due to wetland loss.
American Black Duck
A large dark brown dabbling duck closely resembling a very dark female Mallard, with purple speculum, yellowish-olive bill in males, and orange legs. Common in eastern North America. Hybridizes freely with Mallard; pure populations declining in the interior.