Plumed Whistling-duck vs African Pygmy-goose
Dendrocygna eytoni compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Plumed Whistling-duck | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna eytoni | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 46.4 cm (18.3 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 877.5 g (30.95 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes short tundra grasses; also takes aquatic vegetation; large Arctic goose wintering on coastal marshes … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 8-14 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
Plumed Whistling-duck
Breeds in the Holarctic tundra and boreal zones; winters on temperate coasts and large inland lakes globally.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Plumed Whistling-duck
African Pygmy-goose
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
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.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.