White-winged Duck vs African Pygmy-goose

Asarcornis scutulata comparé à Nettapus auritus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut White-winged Duck African Pygmy-goose
Nom scientifique Asarcornis scutulata Nettapus auritus
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Critically Endangered Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 68,3 cm (26.9 in) 29,9 cm (11.8 in)
Poids 2950,0 g (104.06 oz) 272,5 g (9.61 oz)
Régime alimentaire Feeds on seeds, plant material, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in shallow water; diet varies widely … Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding …
Taille de la couvée 6-15 6-12
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

White-winged Duck only

African Pygmy-goose only

Aucun(e)

White-winged Duck

Undisturbed lowland tropical forest near slow rivers, pools, and forest swamps at low elevations in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sumatra. Requires large trees with nest cavities near permanent water.

African Pygmy-goose

Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.

Song & Call Comparison

White-winged Duck

Chant

Critically endangered; extremely rare in wild. Gives low guttural hissing calls and soft wing-beating sounds. Vocalizations in wild scarcely documented given its rarity.

African Pygmy-goose

Chant

Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.

Geographic Range & Migration

White-winged Duck

Breeds in northern Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. A classic Palearctic–African migrant with a wide wintering range.

African Pygmy-goose

Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Statut de conservation

Critically Endangered

White-winged Duck

Least Concern

African Pygmy-goose

How to Tell Them Apart

White-winged Duck

Plumage

Dark brown body with pale spotting on head and neck. Bold white wing patch visible in flight. Yellowish-orange bill; legs orange. Head pale buffish-white speckled brown. Critically endangered SE Asian …

African Pygmy-goose

Plumage

Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.

About These Birds

White-winged Duck

A large dark duck with a pale speckled head, brownish body, and broad white wing patch visible in flight. One of Asia's most endangered ducks. Found in undisturbed lowland forest near rivers in South and Southeast Asia. Nests in large tree hollows. Threatened by deforestation and hunting.

African Pygmy-goose

A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.

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