Kelp Goose vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Chloephaga hybrida compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Kelp Goose | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chloephaga hybrida | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 71.6 cm (28.2 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 2735.0 g (96.47 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Kelp Goose
Rocky wave-washed shores, sea channels, and kelp-fringed coasts of Patagonian Chile and Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. Strictly coastal; almost never moves inland.
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
Kelp Goose
A loud, nasal 'honk'. Male is mostly white and gives sharper calls; female is dark and gives softer, lower honks. Coastal Patagonian and Falklands habitat; highly vocal.
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
Kelp Goose
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
Kelp Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Kelp Goose
Extreme dimorphism. Males entirely white with yellow bill and legs. Females dark brown barred white overall; yellow legs. Coastal species of rocky shores. Sexes so different they were once considered …
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
Kelp Goose
A sheldgoose with stark sexual dimorphism: males are entirely white; females are dark brown with white belly and barred flanks. Found exclusively on rocky wave-washed shorelines where it feeds almost entirely on kelp and green algae. Endemic to Patagonian coastline and Falkland Islands.
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.