Blue-winged Goose vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Cyanochen cyanoptera compared with Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Blue-winged Goose | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cyanochen cyanoptera | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 65.2 cm (25.7 in) | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Weight | 1796.25 g (63.36 oz) | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Diet | Eats aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet shifts toward invertebrates in … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Clutch Size | 4-12 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
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
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.
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
Blue-winged Goose
Breeds in northern prairie wetlands; winters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.
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
Blue-winged Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
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
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.
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.