Southern Pochard vs African Pygmy-goose
Netta erythrophthalma compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Southern Pochard | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Netta erythrophthalma | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 41.6 cm (16.4 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 820.8 g (28.95 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; eats hard-shelled prey; diet shifts with coastal habitat … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 5-15 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Southern Pochard
Freshwater and brackish lakes, pans, and marshes in sub-Saharan Africa and separately in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, and Ecuador. Nomadic in Africa; follows seasonal flooding.
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
Southern Pochard
Male gives a harsh, buzzy churr; female produces a series of resonant quacks. The male's buzzy display call is subdued; the female's loud, emphatic quacking dominates African wetland sounds.
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
Southern Pochard
Breeds across northern North America; winters along both coasts, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Basin.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Southern Pochard
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Southern Pochard
Males deep brown with iridescent black head and red eye; pale blue-gray bill with dark tip. Females brown with pale face and pale crescent behind eye. White wing stripe in …
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
Southern Pochard
A medium-sized diving duck. Males have a dark chestnut-brown head and body with a white eye-ring and red eye; females are brown with white facial crescent. Found in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. Nomadic in Africa; follows water availability.
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.