African Black Duck vs Torrent Duck
Anas sparsa compared with Merganetta armata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Torrent Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Merganetta armata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 32.7 cm (12.9 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 366.875 g (12.94 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Filter-feeds on aquatic invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow wetlands; diet more plant-based in winter … |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 3-4 |
| 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.
Torrent Duck
Fast-flowing clear Andean mountain rivers and torrents at 1,500–4,500 m from Venezuela south through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile to Tierra del Fuego. Requires bouldered well-oxygenated rapids.
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.
Torrent Duck
A sharp, staccato 'pit' or 'wit' call. Males give a loud, ringing whistle. The Torrent Duck is a fast-flowing Andean river specialist; calls carry over powerful rapids.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Torrent Duck
Breeds in the northern prairie pothole region; winters along both coasts of the United States and south to Mexico.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Torrent 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 …
Torrent Duck
Striking sexual dimorphism. Males have white head with black stripes and red bill; dark back with rufous breast. Females gray above with rufous-cinnamon underparts. Stiff tail; specialized for fast-running rivers.
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.
Torrent Duck
A slim agile duck perfectly adapted to fast-flowing Andean rivers. Males are striking with a white-and-black-streaked head, red bill, and chestnut breast; females are rufous below. Forages by diving and swimming in violent rapids, holding on to boulders with strong claws. Monogamous with strong site fidelity.