Barrow's Goldeneye vs African Pygmy-goose
Bucephala islandica compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Barrow's Goldeneye | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bucephala islandica | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 44.3 cm (17.4 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 838.0 g (29.56 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for crustaceans, aquatic insects, and molluscs in mountain lakes and coastal bays. Diet similar … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 6-14 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
Song & Call Comparison
Barrow's Goldeneye
Male produces a whistled, nasal kaow-kaow call; female gives a harsh quacking series. The male's wheezy, double call differs from Common Goldeneye; heard on western North American lakes.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
Barrow's Goldeneye
Breeds in Iceland, western Canada, and locally the western United States. Winters on coasts and lakes of the Pacific Northwest and eastern Canada.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Barrow's Goldeneye
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Barrow's Goldeneye
Male has iridescent purple-black head with crescent-shaped white facial patch; white body with black scapulars bearing bold white spots. Female grey with brown head, white collar; head rounder than Common …
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
About These Birds
Barrow's Goldeneye
A medium-sized cavity-nesting duck (~840 g) in family Anatidae, males with purple-glossed heads and a crescent-shaped white face patch. Breeds near mountain lakes in western North America and Iceland; winters on coastal bays. Dives for invertebrates and small fish. Least Concern; dependent on large tree cavities for nesting.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.