Black-headed Duck vs Freckled Duck
Heteronetta atricapilla compared with Stictonetta naevosa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-headed Duck | Freckled Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Heteronetta atricapilla | Stictonetta naevosa |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 34.7 cm (13.7 in) | 46.5 cm (18.3 in) |
| Weight | 528.5 g (18.64 oz) | 888.25 g (31.33 oz) |
| Diet | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds in shallow water; upends in wetlands; diet shifts toward plant … |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 5-10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Freckled Duck
Dense inland freshwater swamps, tea-tree bogs, and reedy lakes across southern and inland Australia. Highly nomadic; follows ephemeral inland flooding. Key breeding sites in Murray-Darling Basin swamps.
Song & Call Comparison
Black-headed Duck
Male gives a soft, raspy peeping note; female produces a muted quack. An obligate brood parasite with reduced vocalizations; subdued calls suit its secretive lifestyle among Argentine reeds.
Freckled Duck
Soft, nasal 'quacking' and grunting sounds. Considered a quieter, more secretive duck than most. Males give a soft wheeze; females give low quacks. Not vocal by duck standards.
Geographic Range & Migration
Black-headed Duck
Resident in southern South America from southern Brazil and Bolivia south to Argentina and Chile. Found on lakes and marshes in open lowlands.
Freckled Duck
Breeds in the sub-Arctic and boreal regions of North America; winters inland and coastally across the southern United States.
Conservation Status
Black-headed Duck
Freckled Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-headed Duck
Male has distinctive jet-black head and neck, warm chestnut-brown back, and pale buff underparts; blue-grey bill with red base. Female is streaked brown above with pale supercilium and whitish underparts.
Freckled Duck
Dark grayish-brown plumage densely freckled with pale spots and streaks throughout. Head large and rounded with peaked crown. Bill gray-blue with red patch at base in breeding males. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Black-headed Duck
A small diving duck (~530 g) of South America, family Anatidae, and the sole member of genus Heteronetta. Inhabits freshwater marshes and lakes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Unique among waterfowl as an obligate brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of coots and other waterbirds. Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern.
Freckled Duck
An unusual Australian duck with dark brown plumage densely speckled with small pale spots. Considered a living fossil with no close relatives—placed in its own subfamily. Males have a red base to the bill in breeding season. Found in inland Australia; highly nomadic following rainfall.