Emperor Goose vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Anser canagicus comparé à Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Emperor Goose | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anser canagicus | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 74,8 cm (29.4 in) | 37,2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 2300,45 g (81.15 oz) | 779,5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Grazes aquatic plants and terrestrial grasses; upends in shallow water; winter diet shifts toward grain … | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-8 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Emperor Goose
Breeds on coastal tundra near the Bering Sea in Alaska and Chukotka. Winters on rocky coastal shorelines, kelp beds, and intertidal flats along the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula.
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
Emperor Goose
A low, nasal 'clag-clag' call. Less vocal than other Anser geese. Gives contact calls in flocks during Arctic breeding and Pacific coast wintering. Somewhat quiet.
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
Emperor Goose
Breeds in the eastern Arctic of Canada; winters along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Florida and occasionally to Texas.
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
Emperor Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Emperor Goose
Body plumage blue-gray with black and white feather scalloping. White head and hindneck contrasting with dark throat. Orange-yellow legs. Bill pink-orange. Tail white. Adults striking; sexes similar.
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
Emperor Goose
A stocky silvery-grey goose with a white head stained orange-yellow from iron-rich water, black-and-white scaly body, and orange-yellow legs. Breeds on Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim delta; winters along the Aleutian Islands coastline. Strongly tied to coastal habitats year-round.
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.