Chestnut Teal vs African Black Duck
Anas castanea compared with Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Chestnut Teal | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas castanea | Anas sparsa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 40.4 cm (15.9 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 662.25 g (23.36 oz) | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 5-17 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Chestnut Teal
Coastal and estuarine wetlands, saltmarshes, estuaries, and coastal freshwater lakes in southeastern and southwestern Australia. More closely tied to coastal habitats than most Australian ducks.
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
Chestnut Teal
Female produces a loud, emphatic quacking series; male gives a high, whistled note. The female's resonant quacking call is a familiar sound of southern Australian coastal wetlands.
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.
Conservation Status
Chestnut Teal
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Chestnut Teal
Strong dimorphism. Males have iridescent dark green head; rich chestnut underparts with white flank patch. Brown back; dark undertail. Females mottled brown with pale face. Iridescent green speculum. Australian coastal.
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
Chestnut Teal
A small duck with males having a gorgeous iridescent green head, rich chestnut body, and green speculum with white border. Females are brown and hard to distinguish from Grey Teal. Endemic to Australia; common in coastal southeastern and southwestern Australia.
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.