Common Scoter vs African Pygmy-goose
Melanitta nigra comparado con Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Atributo | Common Scoter | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Nombre científico | Melanitta nigra | Nettapus auritus |
| Orden | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Familia | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Estado de conservación | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longitud | — | — |
| Envergadura | 44,2 cm (17.4 in) | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Peso | 1127,25 g (39.76 oz) | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Dieta | Dives for bivalves, especially cockles, mussels, and clams, in shallow coastal seas. Also eats crustaceans … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Tamaño de la puesta | 6-8 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Hábitats compartidos
Common Scoter only
African Pygmy-goose only
Ninguno
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
Common Scoter
Male gives a soft, piping whistle; female produces a harsh, rasping call. The male's piping whistle is subtle; female's harsh calls dominate on European winter coasts and estuaries.
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
Common Scoter
Breeds on moorland and boreal tundra from Iceland and Britain east to western Siberia. Winters on northwestern European coasts and the Baltic Sea.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Estado de conservación
Common Scoter
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Common Scoter
Male is entirely sooty black without white markings; orange-yellow patch on upper bill with small black knob. Female brownish-black above with contrasting pale cream cheeks and throat.
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
Common Scoter
El negrón común es el más negro de los negretes, con el macho enteramente negro y solo un pequeño parche amarillo en el pico. Cría en la tundra y los bosques boreales del norte de Europa y Asia occidental, e inverna en las costas del Atlántico norte y el Mar del Norte. En el mar forma grandes y compactas bandadas en reposo conocidas como 'balsas'.
African Pygmy-goose
El pigmeo africano o pato enano africano es el pato más pequeño de África y uno de los patos más pequeños del mundo. Tiene plumaje de color verde oscuro y blanco con el cuello de color castaño rojizo. Habita en lagunas tranquilas, estanques y pantanos con abundante vegetación flotante, especialmente lirios de agua, en África subsahariana.