Sunda Teal vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Anas gibberifrons compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sunda Teal | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas gibberifrons | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.7 cm (15.2 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 409.25 g (14.44 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and plant matter; diet varies with habitat between freshwater and … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 7-8 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Sunda Teal
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rice paddies, and coastal wetlands on Indonesian islands including Java, Sulawesi, and the Lesser Sundas. Non-migratory; resident on oceanic islands.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
Sunda Teal
Female gives a nasal, descending quacking series; male utters a soft whistle. Calls resemble Grey Teal; heard across Indonesian and Philippine freshwater marshes and tidal ponds.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sunda Teal
Breeds in the prairie pothole region and northern boreal zone; winters along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of North America.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Conservation Status
Sunda Teal
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Sunda Teal
Dark brown body with finely scalloped pale feather edges. Crown dark; face paler buff-brown. Bill gray. Speculum iridescent green with white borders. Flat forehead profile. Sexes similar. Sunda Islands wetland …
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Sunda Teal
A medium-sized brown teal with pale spotting, green speculum, and a high domed forehead giving the head a distinctive shape. Found on Indonesian islands from Java and Sulawesi to Lesser Sundas. Non-migratory island species. Threatened by hunting and wetland drainage.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.