African Black Duck vs Mauritius Duck
Anas sparsa compared with Anas theodori
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Mauritius Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Anas theodori |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Extinct |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | — |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | — |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
Mauritius Duck
Historically restricted to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean. Now extinct. Presumably inhabited freshwater wetlands and coastal areas before human colonization.
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.
Mauritius Duck
Extinct (EX). No recordings exist. As a small island Anas duck, likely produced a quiet quacking call. Closest living relatives among insular Indian Ocean teals give soft, nasal notes.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Mauritius Duck
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 …
Mauritius Duck
Extinct Mascarene duck known only from subfossil bones. Plumage unrecorded; presumably brown dabbling duck plumage typical of Anas. Likely flightless or near-flightless; extirpated after European settlement of Mauritius.
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.
Mauritius Duck
An extinct duck known from subfossil bones found on Mauritius and Réunion. Closely related to the Grey Teal. Went extinct after European settlement of the Mascarene Islands in the 17th century due to hunting and introduced predators.