Pink-footed Goose vs African Pygmy-goose
Anser brachyrhynchus compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pink-footed Goose | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser brachyrhynchus | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 86.4 cm (34.0 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 2590.0 g (91.36 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic plants near rivers; takes invertebrates in breeding season; nomadic in response … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Pink-footed Goose only
African Pygmy-goose only
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on tundra and cliff ledges in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard. Winters on agricultural fields, saltmarshes, and estuaries in Scotland, England, Netherlands, and Denmark.
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
Song & Call Comparison
Pink-footed Goose
A musical, high-pitched 'wink-wink' — noticeably higher and more musical than Greylag or Bean Goose. The 'wink' call is a reliable identification feature in winter flocks.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra ponds across North America; winters on both US coasts and Gulf Coast estuaries.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Pink-footed Goose
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Pink-footed Goose
Dark brown head and neck. Back grayish-brown; underparts pale gray. Diagnostic pink feet and pink-banded dark bill. Pale blue-gray forewing in flight. Compact and round-headed. Sexes similar.
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
About These Birds
Pink-footed Goose
A compact short-necked goose with a pink-and-black bill, pink feet, and warm brown-grey body. Breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard; winters in northwestern Europe. One of Britain's most spectacular winter visitors; massive roosts of over 200,000 birds occur in Scotland.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.