Red-breasted Goose vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Branta ruficollis compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-breasted Goose | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Branta ruficollis | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 69.1 cm (27.2 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 1253.25 g (44.21 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses, seeds, and aquatic plants; introduced to many wetlands; upends in shallow water for … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 3-10 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
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
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.
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
Red-breasted Goose
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic tundra in North America; winters along both US coasts and interior wetlands south to Central America.
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
Red-breasted Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
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
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.
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.