Black-headed Duck vs White-backed Duck

Heteronetta atricapilla comparado con Thalassornis leuconotus

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Black-headed Duck White-backed Duck
Nombre científico Heteronetta atricapilla Thalassornis leuconotus
Orden Anseriformes Anseriformes
Familia Anatidae Anatidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 34,7 cm (13.7 in) 33,3 cm (13.1 in)
Peso 528,5 g (18.64 oz) 704,6666666666666 g (24.86 oz)
Dieta Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … Eats aquatic plants, grasses, and seeds; large tropical swan grazing on lake margins and floating …
Tamaño de la puesta 2 4-10
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Black-headed Duck only

White-backed Duck only

Ninguno

White-backed Duck

Freshwater lakes, ponds, and swamps with abundant floating aquatic vegetation, especially water lilies, in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Prefers shallow sheltered water with emergent vegetation for cover.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Black-headed Duck

Canto

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.

White-backed Duck

Canto

Soft, low whistles and hissing sounds. The White-backed Duck is relatively quiet compared to whistling-ducks. Alarm call is a low 'peep'. Mostly heard at night.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

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.

White-backed Duck

Breeds in subarctic Canada; winters along the Atlantic coast from New England to Florida and on the Gulf Coast.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Estado de conservación

Least Concern

Black-headed Duck

Least Concern

White-backed Duck

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Black-headed Duck

Plumaje

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.

White-backed Duck

Plumaje

Heavily mottled and barred brown and buff overall. Diagnostic white back patch visible in flight. Head brown with whitish face and chin. Stiff tail held erect. Sexes similar; stiff-tail diving …

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Black-headed Duck

El pato cabeza negra es un pequeño pato buceador (~530 g) de América del Sur, familia Anatidae, y el único miembro del género Heteronetta. Tiene la cabeza negra en el macho y cuerpo marrón. Parásita de nido obligada: pone sus huevos en los nidos de otras aves acuáticas, especialmente fochas y pollas de agua. Habita en lagos y lagunas con vegetación emergente de Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay. No cría su propia cría nunca.

White-backed Duck

El pato blanquinegro es un pato de cola tiesa africano con un plumaje críptico de color marrón oscuro moteado de blanco. Se distingue por su cabeza de color caqui y el cuello barreado. Habita en pantanos con vegetación densa y lagnas con abundante vegetación flotante en África subsahariana y Madagascar. Está clasificado como casi amenazado.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #} {# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family