African Black Duck vs Canada Goose
Anas sparsa compared with Branta canadensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Canada Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Branta canadensis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 84.6 cm (33.3 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 4906.599999999999 g (173.08 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Grazes aquatic vegetation and grasses in Arctic tundra; migrates south to winter on estuaries eating … |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 1-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
African Black Duck
Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.
Canada Goose
Lakes, rivers, ponds, parks, golf courses, agricultural fields, and coastal marshes across North America. Breeds on ground near water. Many populations now resident year-round in temperate urban areas.
Song & Call Comparison
African Black Duck
Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.
Canada Goose
A loud, resonant 'a-honk' or 'hrr-onk'. Flocks produce a constant clamoring honk during migration. Also gives softer cackling contact calls. One of the most recognizable bird sounds.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Canada Goose
Breeds across Canada and Alaska; winters from the contiguous US to northern Mexico. Introduced populations resident in Europe and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Canada Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
African Black Duck
Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …
Canada Goose
Black head and long neck with bold white chin strap. Back and wings brown-gray; underparts pale tan to white on belly. White undertail coverts. Tail black. Large and familiar; sexes …
About These Birds
African Black Duck
A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.
Canada Goose
A large familiar goose with a black head and neck, white chinstrap patch, brown body, and white undertail. The most widespread goose in North America. Populations have dramatically expanded in urban parks due to adaptability. Migratory in the northern range; increasingly resident in temperate regions.