Upland Goose vs Black-headed Duck
Chloephaga picta verglichen mit Heteronetta atricapilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Upland Goose | Black-headed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Chloephaga picta | Heteronetta atricapilla |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 82,4 cm (32.4 in) | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Gewicht | 2916,0 g (102.86 oz) | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) |
| Ernährung | Grazes grasses and sedges; dabbles for aquatic invertebrates; diet shifts between plant-heavy and invertebrate-heavy phases. | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … |
| Gelegegröße | 5-8 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Upland Goose
Open Patagonian grasslands, steppe, and agricultural pastures in southern Chile and Argentina, including the Falkland Islands. Grazes on short grass. Males aggressively defend territories. Partially migratory.
Song & Call Comparison
Upland Goose
Male gives a high, whistled 'whew'; female gives a low, rolling cackle 'ga-ga-ga'. Sexual differences in call are pronounced. Falklands and Patagonian populations highly vocal.
Black-headed Duck
Male gives a soft, raspy peeping note; female produces a muted quack. An obligate brood parasite with reduced vocalizations; subdued calls suit its secretive lifestyle among Argentine reeds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Upland Goose
Endemic to New Caledonia and its surrounding islands. Confined to dense rainforest; non-migratory and terrestrial year-round.
Black-headed Duck
Resident in southern South America from southern Brazil and Bolivia south to Argentina and Chile. Found on lakes and marshes in open lowlands.
Erhaltungsstatus
Upland Goose
Black-headed Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Upland Goose
Pronounced dimorphism. Males white with black-barred flanks and white wings with black primaries. Females rufous-brown with black-barred flanks and white belly. Both sexes yellow-orange legs. Grassland species.
Black-headed Duck
Male has distinctive jet-black head and neck, warm chestnut-brown back, and pale buff underparts; blue-grey bill with red base. Female is streaked brown above with pale supercilium and whitish underparts.
About These Birds
Upland Goose
A large sheldgoose with strong sexual dimorphism: males are white with black back barring; females are warm brown with barred flanks. Common in Patagonian and Falkland Islands grasslands. Gregarious; forms large flocks outside breeding season. Grazes on short grass and agricultural land.
Black-headed Duck
A small diving duck (~530 g) of South America, family Anatidae, and the sole member of genus Heteronetta. Inhabits freshwater marshes and lakes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Unique among waterfowl as an obligate brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of coots and other waterbirds. Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern.