Lesser White-fronted Goose vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Anser erythropus compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Lesser White-fronted Goose | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser erythropus | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 73.8 cm (29.1 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 1912.5 g (67.46 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Lesser White-fronted Goose only
Wandering Whistling-duck only
None
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Breeds on low-arctic and subarctic willow scrub and tundra across northern Eurasia. Winters on agricultural steppes and wetlands in Azerbaijan, Iran, Greece, and eastern Asia. Mixes with White-fronted Goose flocks.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
Lesser White-fronted Goose
A high-pitched, rapid 'yelp' — noticeably faster and higher than Greater White-fronted. VU status; its smaller size is reflected in higher-frequency calls.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Geographic Range & Migration
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Conservation Status
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Lesser White-fronted Goose
Similar to but smaller than Greater White-fronted Goose; more extensive white forehead reaching above eyes. Distinctive yellow eye-ring. Dark brown-gray body with black belly bars. Pink bill; orange legs.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Lesser White-fronted Goose
A small compact goose resembling Greater White-fronted Goose but with a more extensive white blaze, yellow orbital ring, and smaller bill. One of Europe's most endangered geese; wild population now extremely small. Breeds in Arctic Scandinavia and Siberia; winters in the Middle East and eastern Asia.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.