Spotted Whistling-duck vs Black Scoter
Dendrocygna guttata comparé à Melanitta americana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Spotted Whistling-duck | Black Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Dendrocygna guttata | Melanitta americana |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 41,3 cm (16.3 in) | 44,0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 677,5 g (23.90 oz) | 1046,1 g (36.90 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … | Dives for molluscs, particularly mussels and clams, in coastal waters. Takes aquatic insects and plant … |
| Taille de la couvée | 10-11 | 5-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Spotted Whistling-duck only
Black Scoter only
Aucun(e)
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.
Song & Call Comparison
Spotted Whistling-duck
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.
Black Scoter
Male produces a low, melodious whistle; female gives a harsh, grating call. Closely related to Common Scoter; voice very similar; heard on North American Pacific and Atlantic coasts in winter.
Geographic Range & Migration
Spotted Whistling-duck
Ranges widely across sub-Saharan Africa in open woodland and savanna. Largely sedentary with local seasonal movements to water.
Black Scoter
Breeds in boreal forests and tundra of Alaska and northern Canada. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to Baja California and Florida.
Statut de conservation
Spotted Whistling-duck
Black Scoter
How to Tell Them Apart
Spotted Whistling-duck
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.
Black Scoter
Male is pure glossy black throughout with a prominent bright orange-yellow knob at bill base. Female is dark sooty-brown with pale buff cheeks and foreneck contrasting with darker cap and …
About These Birds
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.
Black Scoter
A medium-sized sea duck (~1 kg) in family Anatidae, males entirely black with a bold orange-yellow knob at the bill base. Breeds on boreal and tundra lakes of North America and eastern Russia; winters coastally. Dives for mollusks and crustaceans. Near Threatened following population declines linked to habitat loss on breeding grounds.