African Black Duck vs Australasian Shoveler
Anas sparsa compared with Spatula rhynchotis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Black Duck | Australasian Shoveler |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas sparsa | Spatula rhynchotis |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.5 cm (19.5 in) | 44.8 cm (17.6 in) |
| Weight | 996.8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 678.0 g (23.92 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-9 | 5-13 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
African Black Duck
Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.
Australasian Shoveler
Freshwater and brackish wetlands, lakes, and marshes across southern and eastern Australia and New Zealand. Nomadic in Australia; follows seasonal flooding. Often on permanent lakes and coastal lagoons.
Song & Call Comparison
African Black Duck
Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.
Australasian Shoveler
Male emits a soft, muffled tok; female gives a series of rapid, descending quacks. The female's characteristic quacking laugh is similar to the Northern Shoveler but slightly lower pitched.
Conservation Status
African Black Duck
Australasian Shoveler
How to Tell Them Apart
African Black Duck
Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …
Australasian Shoveler
Males have slate-blue head with white crescent before eye; rich rufous-brown below with white breast spot. Blue forewing and green speculum. Females mottled brown. Long spatulate bill bluish-gray. Dimorphic.
About These Birds
African Black Duck
A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.
Australasian Shoveler
A medium-sized shoveler with the distinctive large bill. Males are brownish with blue-grey wing patches and white facial crescent; females are mottled brown. Found in Australia and New Zealand. Nomadic within Australia; follows seasonal inland flooding.