Labrador Duck vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Camptorhynchus labradorius compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Labrador Duck | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Camptorhynchus labradorius | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | — | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 673.5 g (23.76 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Extinct; soft spatulate bill suggests feeding on soft-shelled benthic molluscs and crustaceans in shallow coastal … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Labrador Duck only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
Labrador Duck
Historically inhabited sandy coastal bays, estuaries, and mussel beds from Labrador to the mid-Atlantic United States. Extinct since 1878. Nesting grounds never confirmed; likely bred in Labrador.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
Song & Call Comparison
Labrador Duck
Extinct (EX). No recordings exist. This North American scoter relative likely gave a quiet, grunting call during display based on the bill morphology suggesting possible unusual vocalizations.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
Geographic Range & Migration
Labrador Duck
Formerly along the eastern coast of North America from Labrador to Chesapeake Bay. Extinct by 1878; last specimen shot in New York.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Labrador Duck
Spotted Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Labrador Duck
Extinct; males had white head and breast with black back, wings and belly; distinctive white wing patch. Broad bill with comb-like lamellae. Females brown. Last specimen 1875; first North American …
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Labrador Duck
An extinct sea duck from eastern North America; the first North American bird to go extinct after European contact. Males had boldly contrasting black-and-white plumage with an unusual flattened soft-edged bill adapted for filter-feeding on mussel beds. Last confirmed sighting in 1878.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.