White-winged Scoter vs African Pygmy-goose
Melanitta deglandi compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-winged Scoter | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melanitta deglandi | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 54.0 cm (21.3 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 1647.1666666666667 g (58.10 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish in coastal and inland waters. Favours mussels and … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 6-16 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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
White-winged Scoter
Male produces a soft, whistled note; female gives a harsh, grating call. Similar to Velvet Scoter; the female's rasping call carries across North Pacific bays and coastal inlets.
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
White-winged Scoter
Breeds in boreal forest and tundra of interior North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to California and the Gulf states.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
White-winged Scoter
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
White-winged Scoter
Male is black with conspicuous white secondaries and a white comma-shaped mark below eye; orange-yellow bill with black basal knob. Female dark brownish-black with two pale facial patches and white …
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
White-winged Scoter
A large diving duck (~1.6 kg) in family Anatidae, distinguished by white secondaries visible in flight. Breeds on freshwater lakes in boreal North America; winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Dives for mussels, clams, and aquatic insects. Least Concern; North American populations remain broadly stable despite some local declines.
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.