African Black Duck vs Cape Barren Goose
Anas sparsa compared with Cereopsis novaehollandiae
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Cape Barren Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Cereopsis novaehollandiae |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 94.2 cm (37.1 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 3816.6666666666665 g (134.63 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Grazes aquatic vegetation and submerged plants; largest Southern Hemisphere swan; winters on estuaries eating eelgrass … |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 3-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
African Black Duck only
None
Cape Barren Goose only
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.
Cape Barren Goose
Open grasslands, heathlands, and low scrub on offshore islands and coastal mainland of southern Australia. Grazes in open areas. Nests on the ground. Largely sedentary with some mainland movements in winter.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Cape Barren Goose
A loud, grunting 'honk-honk' from both sexes. The Cape Barren Goose gives pig-like grunting and cackling sounds. Not musical; its calls are distinctive but harsh.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Cape Barren Goose
Breeds in northern North America; winters in the Great Basin, Great Plains, and coastal areas of the contiguous United States.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Cape Barren Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
Cape Barren Goose
Pale ash-gray plumage with small dark spots on wing coverts. Head whitish-gray. Bill short with prominent lime-green cere. Legs and feet pinkish-red. Sexes similar; one of few native Australian geese.
About These Birds
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.
Cape Barren Goose
A large pale grey goose with a distinctive lime-green cere at the base of its short dark bill and pink legs. Endemic to southern Australia. Grazes on grasses and low scrub on offshore islands. Territorial and aggressive; pairs hold year-round territories. Can survive without fresh water.