Wandering Whistling-duck vs Velvet Scoter
Dendrocygna arcuata compared with Melanitta fusca
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wandering Whistling-duck | Velvet Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Melanitta fusca |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 51.8 cm (20.4 in) |
| Weight | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) | 1635.1666666666667 g (57.68 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | Dives for mussels, cockles, and crustaceans in coastal and brackish waters. Freshwater insects taken on … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 7-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Wandering Whistling-duck only
None
Velvet Scoter only
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
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.
Velvet Scoter
Male emits a low, melodious whistled note; female produces a guttural, rasping call. The male's soft whistle contrasts with the female's harsh, buzzy alarm call on European coasts.
Geographic Range & Migration
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Velvet Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and western Siberia. Winters on coasts of northwestern Europe, the Black Sea, and Caspian Sea.
Conservation Status
Wandering Whistling-duck
Velvet Scoter
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Velvet Scoter
Male is jet black overall with a small white teardrop below eye and white speculum visible in flight; yellow-sided bill with black knob at base. Female is dark brown with …
About These Birds
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.
Velvet Scoter
A large sea duck (~1.6 kg) of the family Anatidae, males black with a white wing patch and yellow-sided bill. Breeds on lakes and rivers of northern Eurasia; winters on coastal waters of Europe. Forages by diving for mollusks and crustaceans. Vulnerable due to significant population declines attributed to hunting pressure and habitat degradation.