African Black Duck vs Hawaiian Duck
Anas sparsa compared with Anas wyvilliana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Hawaiian Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Anas wyvilliana |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 573.25 g (20.22 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Fish-diving duck of South American rivers; uses serrated bill to catch fish and aquatic invertebrates; … |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 9-13 |
| 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.
Hawaiian Duck
Freshwater marshes, rivers, reservoirs, and taro fields on Kauai and other Hawaiian islands. Nests in dense vegetation near water. Threatened by hybridization with domestic or feral Mallards.
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.
Hawaiian Duck
Female produces a raspy, descending quacking series; male gives a soft, nasal sound. Calls similar to Mallard but higher-pitched; alarm is a rapid-fire quacking rattle.
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.
Hawaiian Duck
Ranges across sub-Saharan Africa in open grasslands and wetland edges. Locally nomadic following seasonal rainfall patterns.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Hawaiian 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 …
Hawaiian Duck
Mottled brown plumage; males may show slight green gloss on head but reduced compared to Mallard. Iridescent blue-purple speculum with white borders. Orange bill. Females similar to males; pale buff …
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.
Hawaiian Duck
A medium-sized duck resembling a female Mallard, with mottled brown plumage and green speculum. Endemic to Hawaii; hybridizes with feral Mallards, threatening its genetic integrity. Found on freshwater wetlands of Kauai and other islands. Endangered; conservation focus on reducing hybridization.