Southern Pintail vs African Pygmy-goose
Anas eatoni comparé à Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Southern Pintail | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas eatoni | Nettapus auritus |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 40,6 cm (16.0 in) | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Poids | 497,0 g (17.53 oz) | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; eats hard-shelled prey; diet shifts between freshwater and … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2-6 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Southern Pintail
Restricted to the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen and Crozet archipelagos. Inhabits freshwater streams, ponds, and coastal wetlands. Largely terrestrial for a duck; forages on land among tussock grasses.
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
Southern Pintail
Female produces a quiet, nasal quacking; male gives a soft whistle. Subdued vocalizations suit this sub-Antarctic island duck; calls are seldom heard and rarely documented.
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
Southern Pintail
Breeds in Iceland and high-Arctic Norway; winters on the coasts of northwestern Europe and the British Isles.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Statut de conservation
Southern Pintail
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
Southern Pintail
Brown, mottled plumage; head brown with pale cheeks. Pointed tail; males slightly longer-tailed. Grayish bill. Speculum bronze-green. Sexes similar with modest dimorphism. Subantarctic island endemic; two subspecies.
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
Southern Pintail
A small island duck found on the remote Kerguelen and Crozet archipelagos in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean. Closely related to Northern Pintail. Non-migratory island endemic; small population threatened by introduced predators and overgrazing by rabbits.
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.