African Black Duck vs Chiloe Wigeon
Anas sparsa compared with Mareca sibilatrix
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Chiloe Wigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Mareca sibilatrix |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 49.0 cm (19.3 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 922.8333333333334 g (32.55 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 2-13 |
| 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.
Chiloe Wigeon
Lakes, rivers, freshwater marshes, and coastal lagoons in southern South America from southern Peru and Bolivia south through Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.
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.
Chiloe Wigeon
Male utters a short, melodious whistle; female gives a low purring note. Pairs and flocks call with clear piping exchanges across South American wetlands and coastal lagoons.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Chiloe 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 …
Chiloe Wigeon
Iridescent dark green head with white forehead blaze. Black and white barred flanks; rufous breast; white belly. White forewing patch. Legs blue-gray. Females similar but duller. South American temperate species.
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.
Chiloe Wigeon
A large boldly patterned wigeon with a metallic green head, white face, black breast, grey flanks with white barring, and a bright orange-yellow bill. Endemic to southern South America. Highly territorial; pairs defend lake territories. Named for Chiloé Island in Chile.