African Pygmy-goose vs Crested Shelduck
Nettapus auritus verglichen mit Tadorna cristata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Merkmal | African Pygmy-goose | Crested Shelduck |
|---|---|---|
| Wissenschaftlicher Name | Nettapus auritus | Tadorna cristata |
| Ordnung | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familie | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Erhaltungsstatus | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Länge | — | — |
| Flügelspannweite | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) | 59,8 cm (23.5 in) |
| Gewicht | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) | 1235,0 g (43.56 oz) |
| Ernährung | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … | Possibly extinct; Crested Shelduck fed on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates near East Asian wetlands; … |
| Gelegegröße | 6-12 | 10 |
| 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.
Crested Shelduck
Historically known from coastal Korea, Siberia, and possibly Japan. Habitat preferences poorly known; specimens were collected near coasts and rivers. Possibly extinct.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Crested Shelduck
Critically endangered; last confirmed sightings in 1971. No vocalizations reliably recorded. Presumed similar to related shelducks based on phylogeny but effectively unknown.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Crested Shelduck
Breeds across the Palearctic; winters from West Africa to South Africa. Uses the western and central Palearctic–African flyways.
Erhaltungsstatus
African Pygmy-goose
Crested Shelduck
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Crested Shelduck
Critically rare; known from few specimens. Males dark green head with bushy crest; black and white body with chestnut flanks. Females have white facial markings and brown-barred body. Possibly extinct; …
About These Birds
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.
Crested Shelduck
A mysterious possibly extinct shelduck known from only a handful of specimens collected in Korea and Siberia before 1916. Males had a black head with green sheen, white crest, and colorful body. No confirmed sightings since 1971. Possibly on the edge of extinction or already extinct.