Spotted Whistling-duck vs Spur-winged Goose

Dendrocygna guttata comparé à Plectropterus gambensis

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut Spotted Whistling-duck Spur-winged Goose
Nom scientifique Dendrocygna guttata Plectropterus gambensis
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 41,3 cm (16.3 in) 104,5 cm (41.1 in)
Poids 677,5 g (23.90 oz) 4475,0 g (157.85 oz)
Régime alimentaire Primarily herbivorous; grazes tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal marshes and farmland, switching to … Eats seeds, invertebrates, and aquatic plants; dabbles in shallow water; omnivorous diet shifts with breeding …
Taille de la couvée 10-11 6-14
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

Spotted Whistling-duck only

Spur-winged Goose 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.

Spur-winged Goose

Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, and flooded grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa from the Sahel to South Africa. Feeds along wetland margins and on agricultural land near water. Nests on the ground.

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Song & Call Comparison

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.

Spur-winged Goose

Chant

A harsh, goose-like clucking 'uk-uk-uk' in flight. Males give a whistling hiss. Large and ungainly; its loud wing beats and harsh calls are characteristic of savanna wetlands.

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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.

Spur-winged Goose

Breeds across Alaska and Canada in wetlands; winters along the Pacific coast from the Aleutians to Baja California.

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Statut de conservation

Least Concern

Spotted Whistling-duck

Least Concern

Spur-winged Goose

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How to Tell Them Apart

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.

Spur-winged Goose

Plumage

Large; black upperparts with glossy green and purple iridescence. White forehead patch, facial skin reddish, and white underparts. Males have larger red facial caruncle and bill knob than females. Spur …

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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.

Spur-winged Goose

Africa's largest waterfowl, a massive goose-like bird with iridescent black-and-white plumage, a large red bill knob, bare red facial skin, and prominent bony wing spurs. Males can weigh up to 10 kg. Territorial; feeds on aquatic vegetation and agricultural crops across sub-Saharan Africa.

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