American Black Duck vs Blue-winged Goose
Anas rubripes compared with Cyanochen cyanoptera
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | American Black Duck | Blue-winged Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas rubripes | Cyanochen cyanoptera |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.4 cm (21.0 in) | 65.2 cm (25.7 in) |
| Weight | 1211.25 g (42.73 oz) | 1796.25 g (63.36 oz) |
| Diet | Eats fish and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet shifts toward molluscs … | Eats aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet shifts toward invertebrates in … |
| Clutch Size | 1-17 | 4-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
American Black Duck only
Blue-winged 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.
Blue-winged Goose
Alpine and subalpine grasslands, riverbanks, and marshy meadows at 2,800–4,200 m on the Ethiopian Highlands. Grazes along stream and river margins. Strongly tied to highland wetlands near cold mountain streams.
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.
Blue-winged Goose
A soft, nasal bleating call from Ethiopian highland wetlands. The NT status and restricted Afroalpine range mean vocalizations are poorly documented in systematic detail.
Geographic Range & Migration
American Black Duck
Breeds in the steppe zone of Central Asia; winters in South Asia, East Africa, and coastal Southeast Asia.
Blue-winged Goose
Breeds in northern prairie wetlands; winters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
Conservation Status
American Black Duck
Blue-winged 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 …
Blue-winged Goose
Mostly dull gray-brown; head paler gray. Distinctive pale blue wing patch conspicuous in flight. Underparts slightly paler. Bill and legs pinkish-gray. Sexes similar. Endemic to Ethiopian highlands.
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.
Blue-winged Goose
A medium-sized grey-brown goose-like duck with distinctive pale blue-grey wing patches visible in flight. Endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands. Grazes on short grass near mountain rivers and streams. Monogamous; pairs are permanent. Threatened by agricultural intensification and overgrazing.