Meller's Duck vs Black-headed Duck
Anas melleri comparé à Heteronetta atricapilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Meller's Duck | Black-headed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas melleri | Heteronetta atricapilla |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 49,1 cm (19.3 in) | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Poids | 1023,625 g (36.11 oz) | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Dives for fish and aquatic invertebrates in fast-flowing rivers; serrated bill grips slippery fish; diet … | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … |
| Taille de la couvée | 5-11 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Meller's Duck
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, and rice paddies in the eastern highlands and north of Madagascar. Prefers undisturbed native forest wetlands. Endangered by hunting and habitat conversion.
Song & Call Comparison
Meller's Duck
Female produces a loud, resonant quacking sequence; male gives a soft, nasal grunt. This large Malagasy duck vocalizes with powerful quacking calls along forest rivers and marshes.
Black-headed Duck
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Meller's Duck
Resident in wetlands and lakes from Turkey and Egypt through East Africa to the Cape. Non-migratory and widely distributed.
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.
Statut de conservation
Meller's Duck
Black-headed Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Meller's Duck
Dark brown-olive plumage streaked and mottled with pale buff; resembles large dark Mallard without green head. Iridescent green speculum with white borders. Yellow-brown bill; orange legs. Madagascar endemic.
Black-headed Duck
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.
About These Birds
Meller's Duck
A large brown dabbling duck resembling a female Mallard but larger, with green iridescent speculum and orange bill. Endemic to Madagascar. Endangered; threatened by hunting and wetland loss. One of Madagascar's rarest birds.
Black-headed Duck
A small diving duck (~530 g) of South America, family Anatidae, and the sole member of genus Heteronetta. Inhabits freshwater marshes and lakes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Unique among waterfowl as an obligate brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of coots and other waterbirds. Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern.