Spotted Whistling-duck vs Baikal Teal
Dendrocygna guttata compared with Sibirionetta formosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Spotted Whistling-duck | Baikal Teal |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna guttata | Sibirionetta formosa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.3 cm (16.3 in) | 41.2 cm (16.2 in) |
| Weight | 677.5 g (23.90 oz) | 446.75 g (15.76 oz) |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … | Dabbles for seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and plant matter; omnivorous diet varies with season and water … |
| Clutch Size | 10-11 | 4-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Spotted Whistling-duck only
None
Baikal Teal 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.
Baikal Teal
Breeds in boreal taiga along Siberian rivers and boggy ground from western to northeastern Siberia. Winters on freshwater lakes and rice fields in South Korea, Japan, and eastern China.
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.
Baikal Teal
Male gives a soft, liquid wot-wot call; female produces a low, nasal quack. Wintering flocks create a musical murmuring chorus of whistled notes on East Asian wetlands.
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.
Baikal Teal
Breeds in montane and boreal zones across Eurasia; winters at lower elevations and southern latitudes in Europe and Asia.
Conservation Status
Spotted Whistling-duck
Baikal Teal
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.
Baikal Teal
Males have exquisitely patterned green-and-buff head with bold white and black facial stripes. Pinkish breast with black spots; gray flanks; long drooping scapulars. Females brown with white loral spot 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.
Baikal Teal
A strikingly beautiful teal with intricately patterned golden, green, black, and white head; pink-brown breast; and grey flanks. Breeds in Siberian taiga; winters in East Asia. Once seriously depleted, now recovering. Forms spectacular flocks of hundreds of thousands at South Korean wintering sites.