Plumed Whistling-duck vs Black-headed Duck
Dendrocygna eytoni comparé à Heteronetta atricapilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Plumed Whistling-duck | Black-headed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Dendrocygna eytoni | Heteronetta atricapilla |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 46,4 cm (18.3 in) | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) |
| Poids | 877,5 g (30.95 oz) | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Grazes short tundra grasses; also takes aquatic vegetation; large Arctic goose wintering on coastal marshes … | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … |
| Taille de la couvée | 8-14 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Plumed Whistling-duck only
Aucun(e)
Black-headed Duck only
Aucun(e)
Plumed Whistling-duck
Grassy tropical wetland margins, flooded plains, and well-watered pastures in northern and eastern Australia. Grazes on land near water at night; rests on open ground or in trees during the day.
Song & Call Comparison
Plumed Whistling-duck
A high, reedy whistling call similar to other Dendrocygna. Plumed Whistling-duck gives 'grassy' grassland calls. Less musical than White-faced; contact notes are short whistles.
Black-headed Duck
Male gives a soft, raspy peeping note; female produces a muted quack. An obligate brood parasite with reduced vocalizations; subdued calls suit its secretive lifestyle among Argentine reeds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Plumed Whistling-duck
Breeds in the Holarctic tundra and boreal zones; winters on temperate coasts and large inland lakes globally.
Black-headed Duck
Resident in southern South America from southern Brazil and Bolivia south to Argentina and Chile. Found on lakes and marshes in open lowlands.
Statut de conservation
Plumed Whistling-duck
Black-headed Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Plumed Whistling-duck
Pale brown head and neck; chestnut-brown back. Distinctive long, pale golden plumes extend from flanks. Breast pale pink with dark spots. Belly pale. Long pink legs. Upright posture. Sexes similar.
Black-headed Duck
Male has distinctive jet-black head and neck, warm chestnut-brown back, and pale buff underparts; blue-grey bill with red base. Female is streaked brown above with pale supercilium and whitish underparts.
About These Birds
Plumed Whistling-duck
A large whistling-duck with long buff flank plumes extending beyond the folded wings, brown body, pink bill, and upright posture. Endemic to Australia. Gregarious, forming large grazing flocks on grasslands near water. Feeds mainly on grasses and sedges rather than aquatic plants.
Black-headed Duck
A small diving duck (~530 g) of South America, family Anatidae, and the sole member of genus Heteronetta. Inhabits freshwater marshes and lakes in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Unique among waterfowl as an obligate brood parasite, laying eggs in nests of coots and other waterbirds. Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates. Least Concern.