White-cheeked Pintail vs Black-headed Duck
Anas bahamensis compared with Heteronetta atricapilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-cheeked Pintail | Black-headed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas bahamensis | Heteronetta atricapilla |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.1 cm (16.2 in) | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Weight | 544.5 g (19.21 oz) | 528.5 g (18.64 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in shallow coastal water; diet dominated by hard-shelled … | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … |
| Clutch Size | 5-12 | 2 |
| 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.
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.
Black-headed Duck
Male gives a soft, raspy peeping note; female produces a muted quack. An obligate brood parasite with reduced vocalizations; subdued calls suit its secretive lifestyle among Argentine reeds.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-cheeked Pintail
Breeds in the subarctic and Arctic Eurasia; winters across temperate lakes and coasts in Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Black-headed Duck
Resident in southern South America from southern Brazil and Bolivia south to Argentina and Chile. Found on lakes and marshes in open lowlands.
Conservation Status
White-cheeked Pintail
Black-headed 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 …
Black-headed Duck
Male has distinctive jet-black head and neck, warm chestnut-brown back, and pale buff underparts; blue-grey bill with red base. Female is streaked brown above with pale supercilium and whitish underparts.
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.
Black-headed Duck
A small diving duck (~530 g) of South America, family Anatidae, and the sole member of genus Heteronetta. Inhabits freshwater marshes and lakes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Unique among waterfowl as an obligate brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of coots and other waterbirds. Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern.