African Black Duck vs West Indian Whistling-duck
Anas sparsa verglichen mit Dendrocygna arborea
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | African Black Duck | West Indian Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Anas sparsa | Dendrocygna arborea |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 49,5 cm (19.5 in) | 51,3 cm (20.2 in) |
| Gewicht | 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 1030,0 g (36.33 oz) |
| Ernährung | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Eats grasses, sedges, and grains; migratory goose foraging in Arctic tundra in summer; overwinters on … |
| Gelegegröße | 4-9 | 4-16 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Gemeinsame Lebensräume
African Black Duck only
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West Indian Whistling-duck only
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.
West Indian Whistling-duck
Freshwater lakes, mangrove swamps, palm savannas, and forested wetlands in the Greater and Lesser Antilles. Nests in palm crowns and hollow trees. Highly dependent on Caribbean wet forests and freshwater 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.
West Indian Whistling-duck
A loud, 3-syllable whistle 'whee-whee-whee'. The NT conservation status reflects population pressures. Less commonly heard than its more abundant whistling-duck relatives.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
West Indian Whistling-duck
Found in grassy wetlands and floodplains of Madagascar. Non-migratory and endemic to the island's eastern marshes.
Erhaltungsstatus
African Black Duck
West Indian Whistling-duck
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 …
West Indian Whistling-duck
Dark brown upperparts; head and neck dark with pale sides. Flanks black with bold white spots. Breast dark brown; belly blackish with white flank streaks. Long dark legs. Largest Dendrocygna. …
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.
West Indian Whistling-duck
A large dark whistling-duck with brown and black plumage, a pale face, and chestnut underparts with dark streaks. Endemic to the Caribbean. The largest native duck in the West Indies; listed as Vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss. Roosts communally in palms and forest trees.