Wandering Whistling-duck vs Spur-winged Goose
Dendrocygna arcuata compared with Plectropterus gambensis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Wandering Whistling-duck | Spur-winged Goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Plectropterus gambensis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 37.2 cm (14.6 in) | 104.5 cm (41.1 in) |
| Weight | 779.5 g (27.50 oz) | 4475.0 g (157.85 oz) |
| Diet | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | Eats seeds, invertebrates, and aquatic plants; dabbles in shallow water; omnivorous diet shifts with breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 6-14 |
| 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.
Spur-winged Goose
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, and flooded grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to South Africa. Feeds along wetland margins and on agricultural land near water. Nests on the ground.
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.
Spur-winged Goose
A harsh, goose-like clucking 'uk-uk-uk' in flight. Males give a whistling hiss. Large and ungainly; its loud wing beats and harsh calls are characteristic of savanna wetlands.
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.
Spur-winged Goose
Breeds across Alaska and Canada in wetlands; winters along the Pacific coast from the Aleutians to Baja California.
Conservation Status
Wandering Whistling-duck
Spur-winged 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.
Spur-winged Goose
Large; black upperparts with glossy green and purple iridescence. White forehead patch, facial skin reddish, and white underparts. Males have larger red facial caruncle and bill knob than females. Spur …
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.
Spur-winged Goose
Africa's largest waterfowl, a massive goose-like bird with iridescent black-and-white plumage, a large red bill knob, bare red facial skin, and prominent bony wing spurs. Males can weigh up to 10 kg. Territorial; feeds on aquatic vegetation and agricultural crops across sub-Saharan Africa.