Mauritius Duck vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Anas theodori comparé à Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Mauritius Duck | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas theodori | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | — | 37,2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | — | 779,5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | -- | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Taille de la couvée | -- | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Mauritius Duck
Historically restricted to the Mascarene Islands (Mauritius and Réunion) in the Indian Ocean. Now extinct. Presumably inhabited freshwater wetlands and coastal areas before human colonization.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Tropical freshwater marshes, flooded grasslands, swamps, and lake margins from the Philippines and Indonesia through Papua New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nomadic following wet season flooding.
Song & Call Comparison
Mauritius Duck
Extinct (EX). No recordings exist. As a small island Anas duck, likely produced a quiet quacking call. Closest living relatives among insular Indian Ocean teals give soft, nasal notes.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A soft whistle 'whi-whi-whi' in flight. Less vocal than other whistling-ducks; flocks tend to be quieter. Given at dawn and dusk during flight to roosting or feeding areas.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mauritius Duck
Wandering Whistling-duck
Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.
Statut de conservation
Mauritius Duck
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Mauritius Duck
Extinct Mascarene duck known only from subfossil bones. Plumage unrecorded; presumably brown dabbling duck plumage typical of Anas. Likely flightless or near-flightless; extirpated after European settlement of Mauritius.
Wandering Whistling-duck
Rich chestnut-brown head and neck; dark brown back. Flanks rufous with pale buff streaks and dark spots. Belly blackish. Long, dark pinkish legs. Upright posture typical of whistling-ducks. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
Mauritius Duck
An extinct duck known from subfossil bones found on Mauritius and Réunion. Closely related to the Grey Teal. Went extinct after European settlement of the Mascarene Islands in the 17th century due to hunting and introduced predators.
Wandering Whistling-duck
A medium-sized whistling-duck with rufous-brown body, dark brown back, pale buff underparts, and a chestnut collar. Found in tropical wetlands from Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands. Highly social and nomadic. Forages by dabbling and diving in shallow freshwater.