Reunion Shelduck vs Spotted Whistling-duck
Alopochen kervazoi verglichen mit Dendrocygna guttata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Reunion Shelduck | Spotted Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Alopochen kervazoi | Dendrocygna guttata |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | — | 41,3 cm (16.3 in) |
| Gewicht | — | 677,5 g (23.90 oz) |
| Ernährung | Extinct Reunion shelduck; likely fed on grasses, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates near coastal wetlands based … | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … |
| Gelegegröße | -- | 10-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Gemeinsame Lebensräume
Reunion Shelduck only
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Spotted Whistling-duck only
Reunion Shelduck
Historically restricted to Réunion Island in the Mascarene archipelago. Now extinct; last evidence from early colonial period. Presumably inhabited freshwater wetland habitats on the island.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.
Song & Call Comparison
Reunion Shelduck
Extinct (EX); no vocalizations recorded. The Reunion Shelduck was exterminated soon after European contact. No contemporary accounts of its call survive in the historical record.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.
Geographic Range & Migration
Reunion Shelduck
Formerly found across the Pacific from Hawaii to New Zealand. Extinct by the 19th century; survived late on uninhabited islands.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Erhaltungsstatus
Reunion Shelduck
Spotted Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Reunion Shelduck
Extinct Mascarene species known only from subfossil bones found on Réunion. Plumage unrecorded; presumed similar to Egyptian Goose with brownish-gray tones. Extirpated following European colonization.
Spotted Whistling-duck
Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Reunion Shelduck
An extinct shelduck formerly endemic to Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. Known only from subfossil bones and brief historical records from the 17th century. Went extinct shortly after European colonization. No illustrations or detailed physical description of the living bird is known.
Spotted Whistling-duck
A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.