Spotted Whistling-duck vs Maccoa Duck
Dendrocygna guttata compared with Oxyura maccoa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spotted Whistling-duck | Maccoa Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna guttata | Oxyura maccoa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Endangered |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) | 31.3 cm (12.3 in) |
| Weight | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) | 685.3333333333334 g (24.17 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant seeds in African lakes and marshes. Uses lobed feet … |
| Clutch Size | 10-11 | 4-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
Maccoa Duck
Male emits a rapid, staccato drumming display; female gives a harsh, emphatic quack. The drumming call is powerful and diagnostic; this endangered southern African stiff-tail displays at dawn.
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.
Maccoa Duck
Resident in eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Found on lakes and marshes with dense aquatic vegetation.
Conservation Status
Spotted Whistling-duck
Maccoa 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.
Maccoa Duck
Male has glossy black head, deep chestnut-red body, and vivid sky-blue bill; stiff tail often cocked. Female is dark brown above with streaked buff below and two pale facial stripes …
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.
Maccoa Duck
A stiff-tailed diving duck (~685 g) of sub-Saharan Africa, family Anatidae, males chestnut-bodied with a blue bill. Inhabits large, deep freshwater lakes and dams in eastern and southern Africa. Dives for aquatic invertebrates and vegetation. Endangered due to small, fragmented populations, habitat loss from wetland drainage, and competition with introduced species.