Smew vs African Pygmy-goose

Mergellus albellus comparado con Nettapus auritus

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Atributo Smew African Pygmy-goose
Nombre científico Mergellus albellus Nettapus auritus
Orden Anseriformes Anseriformes
Familia Anatidae Anatidae
Estado de conservación Least Concern Least Concern
Longitud
Envergadura 37,5 cm (14.8 in) 29,9 cm (11.8 in)
Peso 658,75 g (23.24 oz) 272,5 g (9.61 oz)
Dieta Dives for small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans in freshwater and coastal habitats. Uses serrated … Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding …
Tamaño de la puesta 5-11 6-12
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Hábitats compartidos

Smew 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.

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Song & Call Comparison

Smew

Canto

Male gives a soft, crow-like krr note; female produces a grating, rasping call. Both sexes are relatively quiet; the male's harsh, crow-like call is surprisingly low for such a small …

African Pygmy-goose

Canto

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.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Smew

Breeds in boreal forests of northern Europe and Siberia. Winters on large lakes and coasts from western Europe east to Japan and China.

African Pygmy-goose

Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

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Estado de conservación

Least Concern

Smew

Least Concern

African Pygmy-goose

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How to Tell Them Apart

Smew

Plumaje

Male is largely white with black eye patch, black lines on back, and fine black lines on flanks creating a cracked-ice pattern. Female has chestnut-red head, white cheeks, and grey …

African Pygmy-goose

Plumaje

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.

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About These Birds

Smew

La serreta chica o smew es el más pequeño y quizás el más hermoso de los mergansos. El macho en plumaje nupcial es casi enteramente blanco con finas líneas negras y parches negros en la cara. La hembra tiene la cabeza castaña con las mejillas blancas y el cuerpo gris. Cría en bosques boreales de Europa y Asia, y pasa el invierno en lagos y ríos de Europa occidental.

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.

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