African Black Duck vs Crested Shelduck
Anas sparsa comparé à Tadorna cristata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | African Black Duck | Crested Shelduck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas sparsa | Tadorna cristata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 49,5 cm (19.5 in) | 59,8 cm (23.5 in) |
| Poids | 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) | 1235,0 g (43.56 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … | Possibly extinct; Crested Shelduck fed on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates near East Asian wetlands; … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-9 | 10 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
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.
Crested Shelduck
Historically known from coastal Korea, Siberia, and possibly Japan. Habitat preferences poorly known; specimens were collected near coasts and rivers. Possibly extinct.
Song & Call Comparison
African Black Duck
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.
Crested Shelduck
Critically endangered; last confirmed sightings in 1971. No vocalizations reliably recorded. Presumed similar to related shelducks based on phylogeny but effectively unknown.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Crested Shelduck
Breeds across the Palearctic; winters from West Africa to South Africa. Uses the western and central Palearctic–African flyways.
Statut de conservation
African Black Duck
Crested Shelduck
How to Tell Them Apart
African Black Duck
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 …
Crested Shelduck
Critically rare; known from few specimens. Males dark green head with bushy crest; black and white body with chestnut flanks. Females have white facial markings and brown-barred body. Possibly extinct; …
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.
Crested Shelduck
A mysterious possibly extinct shelduck known from only a handful of specimens collected in Korea and Siberia before 1916. Males had a black head with green sheen, white crest, and colorful body. No confirmed sightings since 1971. Possibly on the edge of extinction or already extinct.