African Pygmy-goose vs Andean Duck
Nettapus auritus compared with Oxyura ferruginea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Pygmy-goose | Andean Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nettapus auritus | Oxyura ferruginea |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) | 31.4 cm (12.4 in) |
| Weight | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) | 800.75 g (28.25 oz) |
| Diet | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant seeds in Andean lakes and marshes. Diet similar to … |
| Clutch Size | 6-12 | 6-10 |
| 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.
Andean Duck
Male gives a rapid, staccato drumming display call; female produces a nasal, quacking rattle. The male's mechanical drumming is similar to Ruddy Duck; echoes across Andean high-altitude lakes.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Andean Duck
Resident in the Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina. Found on high-altitude lakes above 3,000 m.
Conservation Status
African Pygmy-goose
Andean 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.
Andean Duck
Male is dark chestnut-rufous overall with black head, white cheeks tinged grey, and deep blue bill. Female is dark brownish with pale cheeks divided by a dark bar; similar to …
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.
Andean Duck
A stocky stiff-tailed duck (~800 g) of family Anatidae inhabiting high-altitude Andean lakes and wetlands from Colombia to Argentina. Males are rich chestnut with a blue bill during the breeding season. Dives for aquatic plants and invertebrates in cold Andean waters. Least Concern; formerly considered conspecific with Ruddy Duck but now recognized as a distinct species.