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 -- --
Taille de la couvée 4-9 10
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

African Black Duck only

Crested Shelduck 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.

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

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.

Crested Shelduck

Chant

Critically endangered; last confirmed sightings in 1971. No vocalizations reliably recorded. Presumed similar to related shelducks based on phylogeny but effectively unknown.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

African Black Duck

Critically Endangered

Crested Shelduck

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 …

Crested Shelduck

Plumage

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.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family