American Black Duck vs Blue-winged Goose

Anas rubripes comparé à Cyanochen cyanoptera

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut American Black Duck Blue-winged Goose
Nom scientifique Anas rubripes Cyanochen cyanoptera
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Near Threatened
Longueur
Envergure 53,4 cm (21.0 in) 65,2 cm (25.7 in)
Poids 1211,25 g (42.73 oz) 1796,25 g (63.36 oz)
Régime alimentaire Eats fish and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet shifts toward molluscs … Eats aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet shifts toward invertebrates in …
Taille de la couvée 1-17 4-12
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

American Black Duck only

Blue-winged Goose only

American Black Duck

Freshwater and brackish wetlands in eastern North America from Atlantic Canada south along the coast to Georgia. Breeds in northern bogs and wetlands. Winters on coastal marshes, estuaries, and freshwater lakes.

Blue-winged Goose

Alpine and subalpine grasslands, riverbanks, and marshy meadows at 2,800–4,200 m on the Ethiopian Highlands. Grazes along stream and river margins. Strongly tied to highland wetlands near cold mountain streams.

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Song & Call Comparison

American Black Duck

Chant

Female produces a loud, deep quacking series; male gives a low, raspy grunt. Voice is deeper and huskier than a Mallard; pairs call powerfully across northeastern North American wetlands.

Blue-winged Goose

Chant

A soft, nasal bleating call from Ethiopian highland wetlands. The NT status and restricted Afroalpine range mean vocalizations are poorly documented in systematic detail.

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Geographic Range & Migration

American Black Duck

Breeds in the steppe zone of Central Asia; winters in South Asia, East Africa, and coastal Southeast Asia.

Blue-winged Goose

Breeds in northern prairie wetlands; winters along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

American Black Duck

Near Threatened

Blue-winged Goose

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How to Tell Them Apart

American Black Duck

Plumage

Sooty dark brown body; head and neck paler buff with dark streaking. Iridescent purple speculum without white border. Males have yellow-green bill; females olive with orange blotches. Silvery underwings in …

Blue-winged Goose

Plumage

Mostly dull gray-brown; head paler gray. Distinctive pale blue wing patch conspicuous in flight. Underparts slightly paler. Bill and legs pinkish-gray. Sexes similar. Endemic to Ethiopian highlands.

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About These Birds

American Black Duck

A large dark brown dabbling duck closely resembling a very dark female Mallard, with purple speculum, yellowish-olive bill in males, and orange legs. Common in eastern North America. Hybridizes freely with Mallard; pure populations declining in the interior.

Blue-winged Goose

A medium-sized grey-brown goose-like duck with distinctive pale blue-grey wing patches visible in flight. Endemic to the Ethiopian Highlands. Grazes on short grass near mountain rivers and streams. Monogamous; pairs are permanent. Threatened by agricultural intensification and overgrazing.

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