American Black Duck vs Hawaiian Goose
Anas rubripes compared with Branta sandvicensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Black Duck | Hawaiian Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas rubripes | Branta sandvicensis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.4 cm (21.0 in) | 72.8 cm (28.7 in) |
| Weight | 1211.25 g (42.73 oz) | 2150.0 g (75.84 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 1-17 | 1-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
American Black Duck only
Hawaiian Goose only
American Black Duck
Freshwater and brackish wetlands in eastern North America from Atlantic Canada south along the coast to Georgia. Breeds in northern bogs and wetlands. Winters on coastal marshes, estuaries, and freshwater lakes.
Hawaiian Goose
Volcanic slopes, lava flows, coastal grasslands, and shrublands on Maui, Hawai'i, and Kauai. Adapted to rocky terrain with reduced toe webbing. Introduced to other Hawaiian islands. Avoids dense forest.
Song & Call Comparison
American Black Duck
Female produces a loud, deep quacking series; male gives a low, raspy grunt. Voice is deeper and huskier than a Mallard; pairs call powerfully across northeastern North American wetlands.
Hawaiian Goose
A soft, low 'moo-moo' — the murmuring call gives the Nene its Hawaiian name. Also gives honking calls in flight. Less vocal than Canada Goose; distinctive murmuring quality.
Conservation Status
American Black Duck
Hawaiian Goose
How to Tell Them Apart
American Black Duck
Sooty dark brown body; head and neck paler buff with dark streaking. Iridescent purple speculum without white border. Males have yellow-green bill; females olive with orange blotches. Silvery underwings in …
Hawaiian Goose
Buff-tan neck with black and white channeled furrows. Crown and face black; hindneck black. Body gray-brown above; underparts pale with buff breast. Reduced webbing on feet. Sexes similar. State bird …
About These Birds
American Black Duck
A large dark brown dabbling duck closely resembling a very dark female Mallard, with purple speculum, yellowish-olive bill in males, and orange legs. Common in eastern North America. Hybridizes freely with Mallard; pure populations declining in the interior.
Hawaiian Goose
Hawaii's state bird and the world's rarest goose, recovered from near extinction. A medium-sized brownish goose with a black face, pale buff neck with diagonal stripes, and reduced webbing between the toes adapted for walking on lava. Grazes on volcanic slopes and coastal areas.