African Black Duck vs Crested Duck
Anas sparsa compared with Lophonetta specularioides
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Crested Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Lophonetta specularioides |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 53.8 cm (21.2 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 941.3833333333333 g (33.21 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 5-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
African Black Duck
Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.
Crested Duck
Fast-flowing Andean rivers, lakes, and puna wetlands from sea level to 4,500 m in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Occupies both coastal and high-altitude wetland habitats.
Song & Call Comparison
African Black Duck
Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.
Crested Duck
Produces a harsh, rattling call and loud hissing alarm notes. Both sexes vocalize with grating, nasal croaking sounds echoing across Andean rocky shores and rivers.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Crested Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
African Black Duck
Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …
Crested Duck
Brown body with dark streaking; long pointed crest on hindcrown. Face and throat pale with dark eye patch. Iridescent purple-bronze speculum bordered white. Bill and legs grayish. Sexes similar. Andean …
About These Birds
African Black Duck
A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.
Crested Duck
A large grey-brown Andean duck with a slightly shaggy crest on the nape, long neck, and bronze-and-black speculum. Found along fast-flowing Andean rivers and high-altitude lakes. Highly territorial; pairs defend stretches of river or lakeshores. Feeds by dabbling and upending.