Greater White-fronted Goose vs Magellanic Steamerduck

Anser albifrons comparé à Tachyeres pteneres

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Greater White-fronted Goose Magellanic Steamerduck
Nom scientifique Anser albifrons Tachyeres pteneres
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 81,6 cm (32.1 in) 52,2 cm (20.6 in)
Poids 2471,0 g (87.16 oz) 4881,25 g (172.18 oz)
Régime alimentaire Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; diet shifts heavily toward invertebrates in breeding … --
Taille de la couvée 3-9 4-8
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Greater White-fronted Goose only

Magellanic Steamerduck only

Aucun(e)

Greater White-fronted Goose

Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra and peatlands. Winters on estuaries, agricultural fields, freshwater marshes, and flooded meadows across Europe, Asia, and North America. One of the most widespread geese.

Magellanic Steamerduck

Rocky coastal shores, kelp-fringed channels, and sheltered bays of Patagonian Chile and Argentina. Flightless; confined to coastline. Nests on rocky shorelines. Uses wings to propel across water surface.

Song & Call Comparison

Greater White-fronted Goose

Chant

A loud, laughing 'kow-lyuk' or musical 'wah-wah'. Gives a distinctive high-pitched yodeling quality lacking in Greylag. Highly vocal in large winter flocks.

Magellanic Steamerduck

Chant

A loud, rattling, staccato 'kik-kik-kik' that sounds like a steam engine — hence 'steamerduck'. The wings also produce a loud churring sound as they beat the water surface.

Geographic Range & Migration

Greater White-fronted Goose

Breeds in the potholes region of the northern Great Plains; winters in the southern United States and along the Gulf Coast.

Magellanic Steamerduck

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Greater White-fronted Goose

Least Concern

Magellanic Steamerduck

How to Tell Them Apart

Greater White-fronted Goose

Plumage

Brown-gray body with white forehead patch bordered by white band at bill base. Underparts with bold irregular black bars on belly. Orange bill; orange-yellow legs. Juveniles lack white front and …

Magellanic Steamerduck

Plumage

Heavy, flightless. Males gray with white eye-stripe and orange-yellow bill. Breast and flanks mottled rufous-brown. Females more brown with white eye-ring and olive-yellow bill. Wings used for steaming.

About These Birds

Greater White-fronted Goose

A medium-large goose with a white forehead patch, orange bill, grey-brown plumage, and variable black barring on the belly. Widespread and numerous; one of the most abundant geese in the world. Breeds across the high Arctic; winters in a wide range of temperate wetland and agricultural habitats.

Magellanic Steamerduck

A large flightless steamerduck with grey-blue plumage, a rust-orange head (male), and massive orange-red bill. Named for its habit of steaming across water using wings and feet. Found on rocky Patagonian coasts and sheltered channels. Among the world's heaviest ducks at up to 6 kg.

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