Brown Teal vs Greater White-fronted Goose
Anas chlorotis compared with Anser albifrons
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brown Teal | Greater White-fronted Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas chlorotis | Anser albifrons |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 39.3 cm (15.5 in) | 81.6 cm (32.1 in) |
| Weight | 683.6 g (24.11 oz) | 2471.0 g (87.16 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; diet shifts heavily toward invertebrates in breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 5-6 | 3-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Brown Teal only
None
Greater White-fronted Goose only
Brown Teal
Dense shrubland, forest streams, freshwater ponds, and coastal wetlands in northern New Zealand, especially Northland and predator-free offshore islands. Most active at dusk and dawn.
Greater White-fronted Goose
Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra and peatlands. Winters on estuaries, agricultural fields, freshwater marshes, and flooded meadows across Europe, Asia, and North America. One of the most widespread geese.
Song & Call Comparison
Brown Teal
Female gives a soft, nasal quacking call; male produces a high, whistled peep. Both sexes are quiet; unobtrusive calls suit this threatened New Zealand nocturnal duck.
Greater White-fronted Goose
A loud, laughing 'kow-lyuk' or musical 'wah-wah'. Gives a distinctive high-pitched yodeling quality lacking in Greylag. Highly vocal in large winter flocks.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brown Teal
Greater White-fronted Goose
Breeds in the potholes region of the northern Great Plains; winters in the southern United States and along the Gulf Coast.
Conservation Status
Brown Teal
Greater White-fronted Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Brown Teal
Dark brown body with fine mottling. Males have iridescent green head sheen, white eye-ring, and chestnut breast. Females duller and browner with paler face and white eye-ring. Iridescent green speculum. …
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brown-gray body with white forehead patch bordered by white band at bill base. Underparts with bold irregular black bars on belly. Orange bill; orange-yellow legs. Juveniles lack white front and …
About These Birds
Brown Teal
A small brown duck with white eye-ring in males, dark brown plumage with chestnut flanks, and green speculum. Formerly widespread; now largely restricted to offshore islands and Northland, New Zealand. Endangered; predator control essential for survival.
Greater White-fronted Goose
A medium-large goose with a white forehead patch, orange bill, grey-brown plumage, and variable black barring on the belly. Widespread and numerous; one of the most abundant geese in the world. Breeds across the high Arctic; winters in a wide range of temperate wetland and agricultural habitats.