Andean Goose vs Wandering Whistling-duck
Chloephaga melanoptera comparé à Dendrocygna arcuata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Andean Goose | Wandering Whistling-duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Chloephaga melanoptera | Dendrocygna arcuata |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 86,3 cm (34.0 in) | 37,2 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 2617,5 g (92.33 oz) | 779,5 g (27.50 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Eats grasses, seeds, molluscs, and aquatic invertebrates; wades in shallow water; diet includes invertebrates year-round. | Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … |
| Taille de la couvée | 5-10 | 6-15 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Andean Goose
High-altitude puna grassland, bofedales (cushion bogs), and lakeshores at 3,500–5,500 m in the Andes from Peru through Bolivia and Chile to northwestern Argentina. Grazes beside glacial and alpine lakes.
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
Andean Goose
A loud, cackling 'kek-kek-kek' from high-altitude Andean puna. Pairs are territorial and vocal. Calls carry well across open altiplano above 4,000 m elevation.
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
Andean Goose
Formerly widespread on the Mascarene Island of Réunion. Extinct in the 17th century; extirpated by hunting and introduced predators.
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
Andean Goose
Wandering Whistling-duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Andean Goose
Entirely white plumage except black-tipped primaries and black tail. Bill and legs coral-pink. Larger than most Chloephaga. Sexes similar. Inhabits high Andean lakes and grasslands above 3,000 m.
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
Andean Goose
A large white-and-black sheldgoose with a distinctive black-tipped pink-and-black bill, bright pink legs, and black wings. Endemic to high Andean puna. One of the highest-living birds in the Americas; found beside glacial lakes and streams. Monogamous; highly territorial during breeding.
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.