White-cheeked Pintail vs African Black Duck
Anas bahamensis compared with Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-cheeked Pintail | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas bahamensis | Anas sparsa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.1 cm (16.2 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 544.5 g (19.21 oz) | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in shallow coastal water; diet dominated by hard-shelled … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 5-12 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
White-cheeked Pintail
Freshwater, brackish, and coastal wetlands across the Caribbean, Galapagos Islands, and South America from Venezuela south to Argentina. Tolerates saline habitats; common in coastal lagoons and estuaries.
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
White-cheeked Pintail
Female gives a descending quacking series; male produces a soft, nasal gak note. Both sexes relatively quiet; calls carry across Caribbean mangroves and Bahamian tidal flats.
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
White-cheeked Pintail
Breeds in the subarctic and Arctic Eurasia; winters across temperate lakes and coasts in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
African Black Duck
Conservation Status
White-cheeked Pintail
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
White-cheeked Pintail
Brown body mottled with dark spots; white cheeks and throat distinctive. Pointed tail. Red base to gray bill. Iridescent green speculum with buff-white front border. Sexes similar but males have …
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
White-cheeked Pintail
A slender duck with white cheeks and throat contrasting with brown body, a red-based grey bill, and distinctive red-sided tail. Found from the Caribbean south through South America. Also known as the Bahama Pintail. Common on Caribbean islands. Three subspecies recognized.
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.