Wandering Whistling-duck vs Orinoco Goose
Dendrocygna arcuata compared with Neochen jubata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wandering Whistling-duck | Orinoco Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Neochen jubata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 59.6 cm (23.5 in) |
| Weight | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) | 1558.0 g (54.96 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | Eats grasses, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates; grazes wetland margins; takes molluscs and crustaceans in shallow … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 6-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Wandering Whistling-duck only
None
Orinoco Goose 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.
Orinoco Goose
Tropical rivers, river islands, sandy beaches, and adjacent gallery forest in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Nests in tree cavities or on the ground near rivers. Associated with braided river channels.
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.
Orinoco Goose
A nasal 'honk-honk' call. Less frequently encountered than other South American waterfowl; calls from gallery forest beside major Orinoco tributaries during the breeding season.
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.
Orinoco Goose
Bred on Amsterdam Island and possibly other sub-Antarctic islets. Extinct; flightless and confined to one small island.
Conservation Status
Wandering Whistling-duck
Orinoco Goose
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.
Orinoco Goose
Pale cream-buff head and neck; chestnut-brown breast and flanks. Back dark brown; belly pale cream. Wings with iridescent green speculum and white inner secondaries. Bill dark; legs reddish-orange. Sexes similar.
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.
Orinoco Goose
A pale-headed chestnut-and-white goose-like bird with a narrow dark mane on the neck. Found on tropical river islands and forest-edge wetlands of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Perches prominently in trees. Monogamous with strong territorial behavior.