African Black Duck vs Eurasian Wigeon
Anas sparsa compared with Mareca penelope
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Eurasian Wigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Mareca penelope |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 50.1 cm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 783.75 g (27.65 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 6-12 |
| 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.
Eurasian Wigeon
Breeds on boreal and subarctic lakes and bogs across Eurasia from Iceland east to Siberia. Winters in huge numbers on estuaries, lakes, and coastal grasslands in western Europe and South and Southeast Asia.
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.
Eurasian Wigeon
Male produces a clear, ringing whee-oo whistle; female gives a low, guttural purr. The male's bright, piping call is the classic sound of European winter estuaries and flocks.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
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 …
Eurasian Wigeon
Males have chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze; pink-buff breast; gray flanks; white belly. White forewing patch conspicuous in flight. Females rufous-brown. Compact with small bill. Dimorphic.
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.
Eurasian Wigeon
A medium-sized compact duck. Males have a chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze, pink breast, grey body, and white wing patch. Highly migratory; one of Europe's most abundant wintering ducks. Grazes on short grass and aquatic vegetation.