Red-crested Pochard vs African Pygmy-goose
Netta rufina compared with Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Red-crested Pochard | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Netta rufina | Nettapus auritus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 51.7 cm (20.4 in) | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Weight | 1087.5 g (38.36 oz) | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs and aquatic invertebrates in coastal habitats; diet dominated by hard-shelled benthic invertebrates. | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Clutch Size | 6-14 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Red-crested Pochard
Large freshwater and brackish lakes, reservoirs, river deltas, and coastal lagoons across southern Europe and Central Asia. Winters on large open water bodies in southern Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.
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
Red-crested Pochard
Male emits a harsh, rasping errr note; female gives a loud, quacking series. The raspy male call is distinctive among pochards; alarm is an emphatic, repeated series on Eurasian lakes.
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
Red-crested Pochard
Breeds across Arctic and subarctic North America; winters broadly across the interior and coastal United States.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status
Red-crested Pochard
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Red-crested Pochard
Males have rounded orange-rufous head with bright red bill; black breast, neck and undertail; white flanks; brown back. Females dark brown with pale cheeks. Bold white wing stripe in flight. …
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
Red-crested Pochard
A large handsome diving duck. Males have a magnificent orange-red rounded head, scarlet bill, black breast and rear, and white flanks; females are brown with contrasting pale cheek. Dives and dabbles for aquatic vegetation. Found across southern Eurasia.
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.