Harlequin Duck vs African Pygmy-goose
Histrionicus histrionicus verglichen mit Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | Harlequin Duck | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Histrionicus histrionicus | Nettapus auritus |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 38,8 cm (15.3 in) | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Gewicht | 553,0 g (19.51 oz) | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Ernährung | Forages in fast-flowing streams for aquatic insect larvae, amphipods, and small fish. Dives and clings … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Gelegegröße | 3-9 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
Song & Call Comparison
Harlequin Duck
Male gives a squeaky, mouse-like squeal; female produces a guttural, grunting call. The male's bizarre, high-pitched squealing call is completely unexpected in such a compact seaduck.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
Harlequin Duck
Breeds on fast-flowing rivers in Iceland, Greenland, and northern North America. Winters along rocky Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to California.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Erhaltungsstatus
Harlequin Duck
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Harlequin Duck
Male is slate-blue with bold white crescent before eye, white spots and streaks on head, neck, and scapulars, and rich chestnut flanks. Female is dark sooty-brown with three white facial …
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
About These Birds
Harlequin Duck
A compact sea duck (~550 g) in family Anatidae, males strikingly patterned in slate-blue with chestnut and white markings. Breeds along fast-flowing mountain streams in North America, Greenland, and Iceland; winters on rocky surf-swept coastlines. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern with stable populations across its range.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.