Sunda Teal vs African Pygmy-goose
Anas gibberifrons compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sunda Teal | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas gibberifrons | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.7 cm (15.2 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 409.25 g (14.44 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and plant matter; diet varies with habitat between freshwater and … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 7-8 | 6-12 |
| 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.
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Sunda Teal
African Pygmy-goose
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 …
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.