Black-headed Duck vs White-winged Scoter
Heteronetta atricapilla comparé à Melanitta deglandi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Black-headed Duck | White-winged Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Heteronetta atricapilla | Melanitta deglandi |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 34,7 cm (13.7 in) | 54,0 cm (21.3 in) |
| Poids | 528,5 g (18.64 oz) | 1647,1666666666667 g (58.10 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Parasitic; adults may feed on aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates in South American marshes. Diet … | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish in coastal and inland waters. Favours mussels and … |
| Taille de la couvée | 2 | 6-16 |
| 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.
White-winged Scoter
Male produces a soft, whistled note; female gives a harsh, grating call. Similar to Velvet Scoter; the female's rasping call carries across North Pacific bays and coastal inlets.
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.
White-winged Scoter
Breeds in boreal forest and tundra of interior North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to California and the Gulf states.
Statut de conservation
Black-headed Duck
White-winged 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.
White-winged Scoter
Male is black with conspicuous white secondaries and a white comma-shaped mark below eye; orange-yellow bill with black basal knob. Female dark brownish-black with two pale facial patches and white …
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.
White-winged Scoter
A large diving duck (~1.6 kg) in family Anatidae, distinguished by white secondaries visible in flight. Breeds on freshwater lakes in boreal North America; winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Dives for mussels, clams, and aquatic insects. Least Concern; North American populations remain broadly stable despite some local declines.