African Pygmy-goose vs Knob-billed Duck
Nettapus auritus compared with Sarkidiornis melanotos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Pygmy-goose | Knob-billed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nettapus auritus | Sarkidiornis melanotos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 29.9 cm (11.8 in) | 64.2 cm (25.3 in) |
| Weight | 272.5 g (9.61 oz) | 1817.5 g (64.11 oz) |
| Diet | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … | Dabbles for seeds and aquatic invertebrates; diet shifts toward invertebrate prey in spring breeding season; … |
| Clutch Size | 6-12 | 6-20 |
| 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.
Knob-billed Duck
Freshwater lakes, marshes, floodplains, and forested wetlands across sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia from India to southern China. Nests in large tree hollows near water.
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.
Knob-billed Duck
A low, grunting 'wuk' or soft, nasal 'krank'. Similar to Comb Duck in call quality. Generally quiet; calls are not loud or distinctive compared to other large African waterfowl.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Knob-billed Duck
Breeds on sub-Arctic tundra; winters on the Atlantic coast of North America from Labrador to Florida and the Gulf Coast.
Conservation Status
African Pygmy-goose
Knob-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.
Knob-billed Duck
Males have white head with black spots; iridescent dark blue-black back and wings; white underparts with gray flanks. Large black fleshy knob atop bill. Females smaller, brown, and lack the …
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.
Knob-billed Duck
Old World equivalent of the Comb Duck, with iridescent black-and-white body and the male's distinctive bill knob. Found across sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Uses tree cavities for nesting. Gregarious outside breeding season; forms large flocks at seasonal wetlands.