Wandering Whistling-duck vs Australasian Shoveler

Dendrocygna arcuata comparé à Spatula rhynchotis

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Wandering Whistling-duck Australasian Shoveler
Nom scientifique Dendrocygna arcuata Spatula rhynchotis
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 37,2 cm (14.6 in) 44,8 cm (17.6 in)
Poids 779,5 g (27.50 oz) 678,0 g (23.92 oz)
Régime alimentaire Eats grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants in tundra; winter diet of coastal salt marsh grasses … --
Taille de la couvée 6-15 5-13
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Wandering Whistling-duck only

Aucun(e)

Australasian Shoveler only

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.

Australasian Shoveler

Freshwater and brackish wetlands, lakes, and marshes across southern and eastern Australia and New Zealand. Nomadic in Australia; follows seasonal flooding. Often on permanent lakes and coastal lagoons.

Song & Call Comparison

Wandering Whistling-duck

Chant

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.

Australasian Shoveler

Chant

Male emits a soft, muffled tok; female gives a series of rapid, descending quacks. The female's characteristic quacking laugh is similar to the Northern Shoveler but slightly lower pitched.

Geographic Range & Migration

Wandering Whistling-duck

Breeds in Arctic and subarctic regions; winters at sea around the Antarctic pack ice, one of the longest migrations known.

Australasian Shoveler

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Wandering Whistling-duck

Least Concern

Australasian Shoveler

How to Tell Them Apart

Wandering Whistling-duck

Plumage

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.

Australasian Shoveler

Plumage

Males have slate-blue head with white crescent before eye; rich rufous-brown below with white breast spot. Blue forewing and green speculum. Females mottled brown. Long spatulate bill bluish-gray. Dimorphic.

About These Birds

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.

Australasian Shoveler

A medium-sized shoveler with the distinctive large bill. Males are brownish with blue-grey wing patches and white facial crescent; females are mottled brown. Found in Australia and New Zealand. Nomadic within Australia; follows seasonal inland flooding.

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family