Black-headed Duck vs Black Scoter
Heteronetta atricapilla comparé à Melanitta americana
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Black-headed Duck | Black Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Heteronetta atricapilla | Melanitta americana |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) | 44,0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Poids | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) | 1046,1 g (36.90 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … | Dives for molluscs, particularly mussels and clams, in coastal waters. Takes aquatic insects and plant … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2 | 5-11 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
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.
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
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.
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
Black-headed Duck
Black Scoter
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
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
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.
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.