African Black Duck vs Paradise Shelduck

Anas sparsa verglichen mit Tadorna variegata

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Merkmal African Black Duck Paradise Shelduck
Wissenschaftlicher Name Anas sparsa Tadorna variegata
Ordnung Anseriformes Anseriformes
Familie Anatidae Anatidae
Erhaltungsstatus Least Concern Least Concern
Länge
Flügelspannweite 49,5 cm (19.5 in) 70,2 cm (27.6 in)
Gewicht 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) 1569,5 g (55.36 oz)
Ernährung Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … Eats seeds, grasses, and aquatic invertebrates; grazes near water; dabbles in shallows; diet varies with …
Gelegegröße 4-9 5-15
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Gemeinsame Lebensräume

African Black Duck only

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Paradise Shelduck 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.

Paradise Shelduck

Open farmland, grassland, lake shores, riverbeds, and wetlands throughout both main islands of New Zealand. Nests in caves, burrows, hollow trees, and dense vegetation. Highly territorial in the breeding season.

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Song & Call Comparison

African Black Duck

Gesang

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.

Paradise Shelduck

Gesang

Male gives a high-pitched whistle; female gives a loud, harsh cackling call 'rak-rak-rak'. New Zealand's only endemic shelduck; calls echoing in open farmland are distinctive.

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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.

Paradise Shelduck

Breeds in Eurasia from the UK to Siberia; winters across sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

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Erhaltungsstatus

Least Concern

African Black Duck

Least Concern

Paradise Shelduck

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Black Duck

Gefieder

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 …

Paradise Shelduck

Gefieder

Extreme dimorphism. Males have black head with green gloss and black-and-chestnut body. Females have pure white head and neck contrasting with rich chestnut-rufous body. Both show white wing patches. New …

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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.

Paradise Shelduck

New Zealand's most colorful duck with strong sexual dimorphism: males have dark greenish-black body; females are strikingly white-headed with chestnut body. Endemic and common. Found across New Zealand's grasslands, farmland, and wetlands. A significant game species traditionally harvested by Māori.

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