African Black Duck vs Red-breasted Goose
Anas sparsa compared with Branta ruficollis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Red-breasted Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Branta ruficollis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 69.1 cm (27.2 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 1253.25 g (44.21 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Grazes grasses, seeds, and aquatic plants; introduced to many wetlands; upends in shallow water for … |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 3-10 |
| 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.
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds on river-terrace tundra in northwestern Siberia, often near Peregrine or Rough-legged Buzzard nests for protection. Winters on agricultural steppes and lake margins around the Black Sea and Caspian Sea.
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.
Red-breasted Goose
A high-pitched, rapid 'kik-kik-kik' call. More vocal during migration; flocks give constant chattering. Considered a more squeaky, high-pitched call than other Branta geese.
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.
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic tundra in North America; winters along both US coasts and interior wetlands south to Central America.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Red-breasted 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 …
Red-breasted Goose
Unmistakable; vivid chestnut-red patch on face and breast bordered by white stripes. Black crown, back, wings, and belly. White flank stripe and undertail. Compact and striking. Sexes similar.
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.
Red-breasted Goose
A small strikingly patterned goose with a vivid chestnut-red breast and face patch, black-and-white body, and white flank stripe. Breeds in Siberian tundra; winters mainly around the Black Sea. One of the most colorful and endangered geese, threatened by hunting and agricultural changes at wintering sites.