Wandering Whistling-duck vs Flying Steamerduck
Dendrocygna arcuata verglichen mit Tachyeres patachonicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Wandering Whistling-duck | Flying Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Dendrocygna arcuata | Tachyeres patachonicus |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 37,2 cm (14.6 in) | 57,4 cm (22.6 in) |
| Gewicht | 779,5 g (27.50 oz) | 2620,75 g (92.44 oz) |
| Ernährung | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … | Dabbles for seeds, invertebrates, and aquatic vegetation; widespread; diet varies from predominantly plant-based to invertebrate-rich. |
| Gelegegröße | 6-15 | 5-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Gemeinsame Lebensräume
Wandering Whistling-duck only
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Flying Steamerduck only
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Flying Steamerduck
Freshwater lakes, rivers, coastal bays, and channels in Patagonian Chile and Argentina from the Lakes Region south to Tierra del Fuego. Partially migratory; some populations move to coasts in winter.
Song & Call Comparison
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Flying Steamerduck
A harsh, rattling 'rrrrr' and nasal calls. Flying Steamerduck can fly (unlike some relatives) and gives vocal calls in flight. Contact calls are clattering and guttural.
Geographic Range & Migration
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Flying Steamerduck
Breeds across the boreal and subarctic zone of North America; winters broadly across the southern United States and Mexico.
Erhaltungsstatus
Wandering Whistling-duck
Flying Steamerduck
How to Tell Them Apart
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
Flying Steamerduck
Males gray with chestnut-brown breast and white eye-stripe. Females brown-gray with white eye-ring and chestnut flanks. Orange-yellow bill. Only Tachyeres species capable of sustained flight. Wings larger.
About These Birds
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.
Flying Steamerduck
The only flying species among the four steamerducks, with grey plumage, rufous-washed head, and an orange-yellow bill. Can fly strongly unlike its relatives. Found in Patagonian freshwater and coastal habitats. Highly territorial; pairs defend stretches of river or lakeshore aggressively.