Black-headed Duck vs Hooded Merganser
Heteronetta atricapilla verglichen mit Lophodytes cucullatus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Black-headed Duck | Hooded Merganser |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Heteronetta atricapilla | Lophodytes cucullatus |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) | 37,3 cm (14.7 in) |
| Gewicht | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) | 638,0 g (22.50 oz) |
| Ernährung | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … | Dives for small fish, aquatic invertebrates, and frogs in clear freshwater streams and ponds. Uses … |
| Gelegegröße | 2 | 6-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Gemeinsame Lebensräume
Black-headed Duck only
Hooded Merganser only
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Hooded Merganser
Male produces a low, rolling rolling-tum tumbling call; female gives a harsh, grating quack. The male's frog-like rolling call is unique among North American ducks during winter courtship.
Geographic Range & Migration
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.
Hooded Merganser
Breeds in forested wetlands of North America from southern Canada to the northern United States. Winters on rivers and lakes south to Mexico.
Erhaltungsstatus
Black-headed Duck
Hooded Merganser
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Hooded Merganser
Male has fan-shaped black-and-white erectile crest; black head and neck, white breast with two black bars, rich cinnamon flanks. Female is greyish-brown with rusty-cinnamon crest, paler below.
About These Birds
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.
Hooded Merganser
A small fish-eating duck (~640 g) of family Anatidae, males bearing a dramatic fan-shaped black and white crest. Breeds in wooded swamps, rivers, and lakes in North America, nesting in tree cavities; winters on sheltered coastal and inland waters. Uses keen underwater vision to hunt fish and crayfish. Least Concern; benefiting from nest box programs.