Plumed Whistling-duck vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Dendrocygna eytoni compared with Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Plumed Whistling-duck | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna eytoni | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 46.4 cm (18.3 in) | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Weight | 877.5 g (30.95 oz) | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes short tundra grasses; also takes aquatic vegetation; large Arctic goose wintering on coastal marshes … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Clutch Size | 8-14 | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Plumed Whistling-duck only
None
Spotted Whistling-duck only
Plumed Whistling-duck
Grassy tropical wetland margins, flooded plains, and well-watered pastures in northern and eastern Australia. Grazes on land near water at night; rests on open ground or in trees during the day.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
Song & Call Comparison
Plumed Whistling-duck
A high, reedy whistling call similar to other Dendrocygna. Plumed Whistling-duck gives 'grassy' grassland calls. Less musical than White-faced; contact notes are short whistles.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
Geographic Range & Migration
Plumed Whistling-duck
Breeds in the Holarctic tundra and boreal zones; winters on temperate coasts and large inland lakes globally.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Conservation Status
Plumed Whistling-duck
Spotted Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Plumed Whistling-duck
Pale brown head and neck; chestnut-brown back. Distinctive long, pale golden plumes extend from flanks. Breast pale pink with dark spots. Belly pale. Long pink legs. Upright posture. Sexes similar.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Plumed Whistling-duck
A large whistling-duck with long buff flank plumes extending beyond the folded wings, brown body, pink bill, and upright posture. Endemic to Australia. Gregarious, forming large grazing flocks on grasslands near water. Feeds mainly on grasses and sedges rather than aquatic plants.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.