Crested Duck vs African Pygmy-goose
Lophonetta specularioides compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Duck | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophonetta specularioides | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 53.8 cm (21.2 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 941.3833333333333 g (33.21 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in ponds and marshes; diet more invertebrate-heavy in … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 5-8 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
Crested Duck
Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most abundant Palearctic ducks on the African wintering grounds.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Crested Duck
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
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 …
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
About These Birds
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.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.