Cape Teal vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Anas capensis comparé à Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Cape Teal | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas capensis | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 38,6 cm (15.2 in) | 37,2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 423,8333333333333 g (14.95 oz) | 779,5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; digs in mudflats; diet heavily invertebrate year-round. | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Taille de la couvée | 5-15 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Cape Teal
Saline, alkaline, and freshwater lakes and pans across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to South Africa. Strongly associated with soda and saline lakes in East Africa's Rift Valley. Nomadic.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
Cape Teal
Female gives a soft, nasal quacking series; male produces a high, piping whistle. The male's clear, piping call is unexpected for a teal; heard on Cape and Namibian estuaries.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Geographic Range & Migration
Cape Teal
Breeds across the Palearctic; winters on coasts from western Africa around to Southeast Asia and Australia.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Statut de conservation
Cape Teal
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Cape Teal
Pale gray-brown plumage with fine dark spotting on breast. Pink bill with dark ridge. Iridescent green-and-black speculum with white borders. Pale head. Sexes similar. African saline and alkaline lake specialist.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Cape Teal
A small pale grey teal with pink bill, orange-red eye, and green speculum. The palest duck in Africa. Found on saline and alkaline lakes and pans across sub-Saharan Africa. Nomadic; follows shifting water availability. Feeds by filter-dabbling.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.