Greater White-fronted Goose vs Muscovy Duck
Anser albifrons compared with Cairina moschata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greater White-fronted Goose | Muscovy Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser albifrons | Cairina moschata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 81.6 cm (32.1 in) | 69.0 cm (27.2 in) |
| Weight | 2471.0 g (87.16 oz) | 2140.0 g (75.49 oz) |
| Diet | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; diet shifts heavily toward invertebrates in breeding … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 8-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Greater White-fronted Goose only
Muscovy Duck only
None
Greater White-fronted Goose
Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra and peatlands. Winters on estuaries, agricultural fields, freshwater marshes, and flooded meadows across Europe, Asia, and North America. One of the most widespread geese.
Muscovy Duck
Tropical and subtropical lowland forest near rivers, lakes, mangroves, and wetlands from Mexico through Central America to Peru, Bolivia, and Uruguay. Common near forest-edge water. Feral populations worldwide.
Song & Call Comparison
Greater White-fronted Goose
A loud, laughing 'kow-lyuk' or musical 'wah-wah'. Gives a distinctive high-pitched yodeling quality lacking in Greylag. Highly vocal in large winter flocks.
Muscovy Duck
Males are nearly silent; females give a raspy, low 'grrrr' hiss when threatened. Domesticated birds familiar worldwide but wild birds are surprisingly quiet and secretive.
Geographic Range & Migration
Greater White-fronted Goose
Breeds in the potholes region of the northern Great Plains; winters in the southern United States and along the Gulf Coast.
Muscovy Duck
Conservation Status
Greater White-fronted Goose
Muscovy Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Greater White-fronted Goose
Brown-gray body with white forehead patch bordered by white band at bill base. Underparts with bold irregular black bars on belly. Orange bill; orange-yellow legs. Juveniles lack white front and …
Muscovy Duck
Glossy black plumage with large white wing patches. Bare red facial skin with warty caruncles, more extensive in males. Males larger; females less knobby-faced. Dark bill. Domestic forms vary widely …
About These Birds
Greater White-fronted Goose
A medium-large goose with a white forehead patch, orange bill, grey-brown plumage, and variable black barring on the belly. Widespread and numerous; one of the most abundant geese in the world. Breeds across the high Arctic; winters in a wide range of temperate wetland and agricultural habitats.
Muscovy Duck
A large powerfully built duck with black-and-white plumage, bare red caruncles on the face of males, and strong claws for perching in trees. Native from Mexico to Peru and Uruguay. Widely domesticated worldwide; feral populations on every continent. The ancestor of domestic Muscovy ducks.