Red-billed Teal vs African Black Duck
Anas erythrorhyncha compared with Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-billed Teal | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas erythrorhyncha | Anas sparsa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 648.0 g (22.86 oz) | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 5-13 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Red-billed Teal
Freshwater lakes, marshes, pans, and flooded fields across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Sudan south to the Cape. Nomadic; follows seasonal flooding. Very tolerant of saline conditions.
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
Red-billed Teal
Female produces a loud, nasal quacking series; male gives a soft, nasal grunt. Both sexes call with emphatic, honking quacks that carry across African open wetlands and dams.
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
Red-billed Teal
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-billed Teal
Diagnostic bright pink-red bill with dark ridge contrasting with dark brown cap. Body brown, finely scalloped. White sides of face. Pale buff-white speculum with dark border. Sexes similar. Sub-Saharan Africa.
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
Red-billed Teal
A medium-sized teal with a distinctive red bill, dark brown cap and back, pale cheeks, and fine barring on the flanks. Common in sub-Saharan Africa, especially eastern and southern Africa. Nomadic; follows seasonal rainfall. One of Africa's most abundant ducks.
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.