African Pygmy-goose vs Falkland Steamerduck
Nettapus auritus compared with Tachyeres brachypterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Pygmy-goose | Falkland Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nettapus auritus | Tachyeres brachypterus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) | 49.0 cm (19.3 in) |
| Weight | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) | 3799.0 g (134.01 oz) |
| Diet | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … | Eats seeds, sedge shoots, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in ponds and marshes; diet varies with … |
| Clutch Size | 6-12 | 4-12 |
| 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.
Falkland Steamerduck
Exclusive to rocky coasts, sheltered coves, kelp beds, and sea inlets of the Falkland Islands. Flightless; strictly coastal. One of the few bird species entirely endemic to the Falkland Islands.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Falkland Steamerduck
Similar to Magellanic Steamerduck in call quality — harsh, rattling, mechanical. Falkland Island birds' vocalizations adapted for stormy, windswept coastal habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Falkland Steamerduck
Breeds in subarctic boreal ponds of Alaska and Canada; winters coastally from Alaska to California and on the Gulf Coast.
Conservation Status
African Pygmy-goose
Falkland Steamerduck
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Falkland Steamerduck
Flightless; males gray with white supercilium and orange bill. Breast grayish-brown; flanks with brown mottling. Females brown with white eye-ring. Yellow-olive bill. Endemic to Falkland Islands.
About These Birds
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.
Falkland Steamerduck
A large flightless steamerduck endemic to the Falkland Islands, with grey body plumage, white belly, and orange-yellow bill. Males have a rust-orange head. Highly territorial and aggressive; pairs vigorously defend coastal territories. Feeds by diving in kelp beds and rocky coastal shallows.