Cape Teal vs Brent Goose
Anas capensis compared with Branta bernicla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Cape Teal | Brent Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas capensis | Branta bernicla |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.6 cm (15.2 in) | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) |
| Weight | 423.8333333333333 g (14.95 oz) | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; digs in mudflats; diet heavily invertebrate year-round. | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … |
| Clutch Size | 5-15 | 1-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Cape Teal
Saline, alkaline, and freshwater lakes and pans across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to South Africa. Strongly associated with soda and saline lakes in East Africa's Rift Valley. Nomadic.
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
Cape Teal
Female gives a soft, nasal quacking series; male produces a high, piping whistle. The male's clear, piping call is unexpected for a teal; heard on Cape and Namibian estuaries.
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
Cape Teal
Breeds across the Palearctic; winters on coasts from western Africa around to Southeast Asia and Australia.
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Conservation Status
Cape Teal
Brent Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Cape Teal
Pale gray-brown plumage with fine dark spotting on breast. Pink bill with dark ridge. Iridescent green-and-black speculum with white borders. Pale head. Sexes similar. African saline and alkaline lake specialist.
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
Cape Teal
A small pale grey teal with pink bill, orange-red eye, and green speculum. The palest duck in Africa. Found on saline and alkaline lakes and pans across sub-Saharan Africa. Nomadic; follows shifting water availability. Feeds by filter-dabbling.
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.