Grey Teal vs African Black Duck
Anas gracilis compared with Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Grey Teal | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas gracilis | Anas sparsa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.4 cm (15.1 in) | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Weight | 504.25 g (17.79 oz) | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 7-8 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Grey Teal
Freshwater and saline wetlands across Australia and New Zealand, including temporary pans, lakes, rivers, and estuaries. Highly nomadic in Australia following unpredictable rainfall. Less nomadic in New Zealand.
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
Grey Teal
Female gives a high, nasal descending quacking series; male produces a soft, piping whistle. The high-pitched quacking call is distinctive; flocks create a musical chattering on Australian wetlands.
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
Grey Teal
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Grey Teal
Pale gray-brown body finely spotted and scaled dark. Head pale gray-buff with fine dark spots. Red eye. White throat. Iridescent green speculum with white front border. Gray bill; gray legs. …
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
Grey Teal
A small grey-brown teal with fine pale edging on feathers, red eye, and green speculum. Widespread and common in Australia and New Zealand. Highly nomadic in Australia; follows inland flooding. Found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats from permanent lakes to temporary claypans.
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.