Spotted Whistling-duck vs Blue-billed Duck
Dendrocygna guttata compared with Oxyura australis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spotted Whistling-duck | Blue-billed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna guttata | Oxyura australis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) |
| Weight | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) | 837.75 g (29.55 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material in Australian freshwater lakes and swamps. Highly … |
| Clutch Size | 10-11 | 5-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Spotted Whistling-duck only
Blue-billed Duck only
None
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
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Male produces a mechanical, splashing display call with loud bill-drumming; female gives a harsh quack. The male's bizarre bubbling-cum-drumming display is spectacular on Australian lakes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Blue-billed Duck
Resident in southwestern and southeastern Australia. Found on freshwater swamps and lakes, avoiding arid and tropical regions.
Conservation Status
Spotted Whistling-duck
Blue-billed Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Breeding male is deep rich chestnut with black head and broad bright blue bill; tail often held erect. Female is dark brown with finely barred buff pattern on body and …
About These Birds
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Australia's only endemic stiff-tailed duck (~840 g), family Anatidae, males recognized by deep chestnut plumage and a vibrant blue bill in breeding season. Inhabits deep freshwater lakes and swamps in southeastern and southwestern Australia. Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant matter. Least Concern; dependent on permanent water bodies, vulnerable to drought cycles.