African Black Duck vs Bufflehead

Anas sparsa comparé à Bucephala albeola

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut African Black Duck Bufflehead
Nom scientifique Anas sparsa Bucephala albeola
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 49,5 cm (19.5 in) 32,2 cm (12.7 in)
Poids 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) 400,5 g (14.13 oz)
Régime alimentaire -- Dives for aquatic insects, crustaceans, and small molluscs in freshwater and coastal habitats. One of …
Taille de la couvée 4-9 5-14
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

African Black Duck only

Aucun(e)

Bufflehead only

Aucun(e)

African Black Duck

Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.

Song & Call Comparison

African Black Duck

Chant

Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.

Bufflehead

Chant

Male produces a soft, squeaky whistle; female gives a harsh, nasal quack. The male's thin, reedy whistle is barely audible; pairs exchange quiet contact calls at boreal forest ponds.

Geographic Range & Migration

African Black Duck

Bufflehead

Breeds in boreal forest of western and central North America. Winters along both coasts and interior lakes from southern Canada south to Mexico.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

African Black Duck

Least Concern

Bufflehead

How to Tell Them Apart

African Black Duck

Plumage

Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …

Bufflehead

Plumage

Male has iridescent green-purple head with a large triangular white patch from behind eye over crown; body clean white except for black back. Female is dark sooty-brown with a single …

About These Birds

African Black Duck

A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.

Bufflehead

North America's smallest diving duck (~400 g), family Anatidae, males iridescent purple-green with a large white head patch. Breeds in forested areas near ponds and lakes, nesting in woodpecker cavities; winters on coastal bays and inland waters. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small fish. Least Concern with stable populations.

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