Red-billed Teal vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Anas erythrorhyncha compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-billed Teal | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas erythrorhyncha | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 43.0 cm (16.9 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 648.0 g (22.86 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet shifts with … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 5-13 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Red-billed Teal only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
Geographic Range & Migration
Red-billed Teal
Breeds in northern Eurasia and Arctic Canada; winters on open ocean in the North Atlantic and North Pacific.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Red-billed Teal
Spotted Whistling-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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.
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.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.