Brent Goose vs Spotted Whistling-duck

Branta bernicla comparé à Dendrocygna guttata

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Brent Goose Spotted Whistling-duck
Nom scientifique Branta bernicla Dendrocygna guttata
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 63,9 cm (25.2 in) 41,3 cm (16.3 in)
Poids 1335,0 g (47.09 oz) 677,5 g (23.90 oz)
Régime alimentaire Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to …
Taille de la couvée 1-10 10-11
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Brent Goose only

Aucun(e)

Spotted Whistling-duck only

Aucun(e)

Brent Goose

Breeds on high-Arctic tundra; winters on estuaries, coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and sea-grass beds along Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. One of the most strictly coastal wintering geese.

Spotted Whistling-duck

Freshwater wetlands, rice fields, streams, and forest pools in New Guinea, Sulawesi, the Philippines, and Moluccas. Often found near forested rivers and seasonal swamps at low elevations.

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Song & Call Comparison

Brent Goose

Chant

A low, guttural 'rronk' or 'ronk-ronk' from flocks. Soft nasal calls in feeding groups. A subtle, understated call for a goose — less loud than most Anser geese.

Spotted Whistling-duck

Chant

A musical, high whistle similar to other whistling-ducks. Call is softer and less far-carrying than White-faced or Black-bellied species. Given in flight and on water.

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Geographic Range & Migration

Brent Goose

Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.

Spotted Whistling-duck

Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Brent Goose

Least Concern

Spotted Whistling-duck

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How to Tell Them Apart

Brent Goose

Plumage

Small; mostly black head, neck, and breast. Small white neck-patch on adults. Back dark brownish-gray; belly pale gray to white depending on subspecies. White undertail coverts. Sexes similar.

Spotted Whistling-duck

Plumage

Dark brown above; head and neck dark brown. Underparts heavily spotted white on dark brown ground, giving spotted appearance. Flanks with bold white spots. Pink-red bill and legs. Sexes similar.

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About These Birds

Brent Goose

A small dark-bodied goose with a black head and neck, small white neck patches, and pale grey belly. Migrates between high-Arctic breeding grounds and temperate coastal wintering areas. Feeds on eel-grass and saltmarsh vegetation in winter. Three subspecies differ in belly coloration.

Spotted Whistling-duck

A small dark brown whistling-duck with bold white spots on its flanks, orange-red bill and legs, and a pale face. Found in tropical wetlands of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Often found near freshwater streams and flooded grassland. Less gregarious than other whistling-ducks.

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