Greater White-fronted Goose vs Maccoa Duck
Anser albifrons compared with Oxyura maccoa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Greater White-fronted Goose | Maccoa Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser albifrons | Oxyura maccoa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 81.6 cm (32.1 in) | 31.3 cm (12.3 in) |
| Weight | 2471.0 g (87.16 oz) | 685.3333333333334 g (24.17 oz) |
| Diet | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; diet shifts heavily toward invertebrates in breeding … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant seeds in African lakes and marshes. Uses lobed feet … |
| Clutch Size | 3-9 | 4-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Greater White-fronted Goose only
Maccoa 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.
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.
Maccoa Duck
Male emits a rapid, staccato drumming display; female gives a harsh, emphatic quack. The drumming call is powerful and diagnostic; this endangered southern African stiff-tail displays at dawn.
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.
Maccoa Duck
Resident in eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Found on lakes and marshes with dense aquatic vegetation.
Conservation Status
Greater White-fronted Goose
Maccoa 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 …
Maccoa Duck
Male has glossy black head, deep chestnut-red body, and vivid sky-blue bill; stiff tail often cocked. Female is dark brown above with streaked buff below and two pale facial stripes …
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.
Maccoa Duck
A stiff-tailed diving duck (~685 g) of sub-Saharan Africa, family Anatidae, males chestnut-bodied with a blue bill. Inhabits large, deep freshwater lakes and dams in eastern and southern Africa. Dives for aquatic invertebrates and vegetation. Endangered due to small, fragmented populations, habitat loss from wetland drainage, and competition with introduced species.