Wandering Whistling-duck vs Green Pygmy-goose
Dendrocygna arcuata compared with Nettapus pulchellus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wandering Whistling-duck | Green Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Nettapus pulchellus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 33.8 cm (13.3 in) |
| Weight | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) | 328.75 g (11.60 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | Eats seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; dabbles in shallow fresh water; diet varies between seasons … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 8-12 |
| 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.
Green Pygmy-goose
Lily-covered tropical freshwater billabongs, lagoons, and seasonal floodplains in New Guinea and the tropical Top End of the Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia. Highly dependent on aquatic vegetation.
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.
Green Pygmy-goose
Male gives a high-pitched, melodic two-note whistle; female produces a quiet, nasal grunt. Courtship includes rapid chattering exchanges between paired birds on tropical lagoons.
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.
Green Pygmy-goose
Breeds across northern and central Eurasia; winters in tropical Africa and South Asia.
Conservation Status
Wandering Whistling-duck
Green Pygmy-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.
Green Pygmy-goose
Males have dark green head and neck with white cheek patch; dark back; white underparts; flanks gray-green with fine barring. Females duller with brown cap and white face. White wing …
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.
Green Pygmy-goose
A tiny dark-green duck with pale spotted underparts, a dark cap, and a short stout bill. Endemic to New Guinea and northern Australia. Found on water-lily-covered billabongs and lakes. Feeds by snatching seeds and petals of aquatic plants from the surface.