Philippine Duck vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Anas luzonica compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Philippine Duck | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas luzonica | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 47.4 cm (18.7 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 850.1666666666666 g (29.99 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for fish in fast Andean rivers; strong swimmer; serrated bill grips slippery prey; diet … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 7-16 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Philippine Duck only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
Philippine Duck
Freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, mangroves, and rice paddies across the Philippine archipelago. Primarily in lowland and foothill areas below 2,500 m. Threatened by hunting and wetland conversion.
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
Philippine Duck
Female gives a loud, descending quacking series; male produces a soft, nasal note. Strong quacking calls echo across Philippine wetlands; alarm is a rapid, emphatic quacking burst.
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
Philippine Duck
Found from Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa through the Middle East to South Asia. Largely sedentary in freshwater habitats.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Philippine Duck
Spotted Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Philippine Duck
Cinnamon-buff head and neck; dark brown-black crown and eye stripe conspicuous. Body grayish-brown with darker back. Iridescent green speculum. Blue-gray bill; orange legs. Sexes similar. Philippine endemic.
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
Philippine Duck
A medium-sized duck with a distinctive rufous head and neck, grey-brown body, and blue-green speculum. Endemic to the Philippines. Listed as Vulnerable; threatened by hunting and wetland degradation. Found in a range of lowland freshwater habitats across the Philippines.
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.