African Pygmy-goose vs Blue-billed Duck
Nettapus auritus compared with Oxyura australis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Pygmy-goose | Blue-billed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nettapus auritus | Oxyura australis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) |
| Weight | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) | 837.75 g (29.55 oz) |
| Diet | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material in Australian freshwater lakes and swamps. Highly … |
| Clutch Size | 6-12 | 5-6 |
| 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
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Male produces a mechanical, splashing display call with loud bill-drumming; female gives a harsh quack. The male's bizarre bubbling-cum-drumming display is spectacular on Australian lakes.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Blue-billed Duck
Resident in southwestern and southeastern Australia. Found on freshwater swamps and lakes, avoiding arid and tropical regions.
Conservation Status
African Pygmy-goose
Blue-billed Duck
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Breeding male is deep rich chestnut with black head and broad bright blue bill; tail often held erect. Female is dark brown with finely barred buff pattern on body and …
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Australia's only endemic stiff-tailed duck (~840 g), family Anatidae, males recognized by deep chestnut plumage and a vibrant blue bill in breeding season. Inhabits deep freshwater lakes and swamps in southeastern and southwestern Australia. Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant matter. Least Concern; dependent on permanent water bodies, vulnerable to drought cycles.