Wandering Whistling-duck vs Goosander
Dendrocygna arcuata compared with Mergus merganser
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wandering Whistling-duck | Goosander |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Mergus merganser |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 54.2 cm (21.3 in) |
| Weight | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) | 1488.0 g (52.49 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | Dives for fish, especially salmon and trout, in rivers and lakes. Also takes frogs, crustaceans, … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 4-22 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
Goosander
Male gives a harsh, crow-like karrr call; female produces a guttural, grunting series. Both sexes produce loud, nasal calls; the male's harsh croaking is a distinctive winter river sound.
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.
Goosander
Breeds across boreal forests of North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters on coasts and large rivers south to the Mediterranean and South Asia.
Conservation Status
Wandering Whistling-duck
Goosander
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.
Goosander
Male has dark green iridescent head, salmon-pink suffused white body, and black back; red serrated bill. Female has rufous-brown head with neat white chin patch, grey body, and pinkish-buff breast.
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.
Goosander
The largest merganser (~1.5 kg) in family Anatidae, males with glossy green heads and salmon-flushed white bodies. Breeds along rivers and lakes in northern Europe, Asia, and North America; winters on larger rivers and reservoirs. A pursuit-diver specializing in fish, using a serrated bill for grip. Least Concern with stable Holarctic distribution.