Yellow-billed Pintail vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Anas georgica compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Yellow-billed Pintail | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas georgica | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.1 cm (16.2 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 626.6666666666666 g (22.11 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Eats aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and small fish; dives in shallow water; diet varies between freshwater … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 3-12 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Yellow-billed Pintail only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
None
Yellow-billed Pintail
Freshwater and brackish lakes, rivers, marshes, and bogs from the Andes to Patagonia in South America, plus the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Ranges from sea level to high altitudes. Partially migratory.
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
Yellow-billed Pintail
Female gives a nasal, descending quacking series; male utters a short, whistled note. Calls are softer than the Northern Pintail; heard across South American lakes and pampas marshes.
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
Yellow-billed Pintail
Breeds across the northern Palearctic; winters in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Yellow-billed Pintail
Spotted Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Yellow-billed Pintail
Brown plumage with pale buff feather edges creating scalloped pattern. Yellow bill with black ridge and tip. Pointed tail; long neck. Iridescent speculum with buff front border. Sexes similar. Andean …
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
Yellow-billed Pintail
A slender long-tailed duck with pale buff-brown body, dark brown cap, yellow-sided bill, and a distinctive long pointed tail. Found from the South American subtropics to the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Gregarious; forms large post-breeding flocks.
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.