Brent Goose vs Andean Duck
Branta bernicla compared with Oxyura ferruginea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brent Goose | Andean Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Branta bernicla | Oxyura ferruginea |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 63.9 cm (25.2 in) | 31.4 cm (12.4 in) |
| Weight | 1335.0 g (47.09 oz) | 800.75 g (28.25 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant seeds in Andean lakes and marshes. Diet similar to … |
| Clutch Size | 1-10 | 6-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Brent Goose
Breeds on high-Arctic tundra; winters on estuaries, coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and sea-grass beds along Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. One of the most strictly coastal wintering geese.
Song & Call Comparison
Brent Goose
A low, guttural 'rronk' or 'ronk-ronk' from flocks. Soft nasal calls in feeding groups. A subtle, understated call for a goose — less loud than most Anser geese.
Andean Duck
Male gives a rapid, staccato drumming display call; female produces a nasal, quacking rattle. The male's mechanical drumming is similar to Ruddy Duck; echoes across Andean high-altitude lakes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Andean Duck
Resident in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Found on high-altitude lakes above 3,000 m.
Conservation Status
Brent Goose
Andean Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Brent Goose
Small; mostly black head, neck, and breast. Small white neck-patch on adults. Back dark brownish-gray; belly pale gray to white depending on subspecies. White undertail coverts. Sexes similar.
Andean Duck
Male is dark chestnut-rufous overall with black head, white cheeks tinged grey, and deep blue bill. Female is dark brownish with pale cheeks divided by a dark bar; similar to …
About These Birds
Brent Goose
A small dark-bodied goose with a black head and neck, small white neck patches, and pale grey belly. Migrates between high-Arctic breeding grounds and temperate coastal wintering areas. Feeds on eel-grass and saltmarsh vegetation in winter. Three subspecies differ in belly coloration.
Andean Duck
A stocky stiff-tailed duck (~800 g) of family Anatidae inhabiting high-altitude Andean lakes and wetlands from Colombia to Argentina. Males are rich chestnut with a blue bill during the breeding season. Dives for aquatic plants and invertebrates in cold Andean waters. Least Concern; formerly considered conspecific with Ruddy Duck but now recognized as a distinct species.