New Zealand Merganser vs African Pygmy-goose
Mergus australis comparé à Nettapus auritus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | New Zealand Merganser | African Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Mergus australis | Nettapus auritus |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | — | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) |
| Poids | 898,0 g (31.68 oz) | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Extinct; historically dived for fish and aquatic invertebrates in New Zealand freshwater streams. Diet inferred … | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … |
| Taille de la couvée | -- | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
African Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, and rivers with floating water lilies and other aquatic vegetation across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Tanzania. Nests in tree cavities near water. Highly dependent on water lily vegetation.
Song & Call Comparison
New Zealand Merganser
Extinct (EX). No recordings exist. This flightless New Zealand merganser likely gave grunting, nasal calls similar to the Red-breasted Merganser based on skull morphology and taxonomy.
African Pygmy-goose
Male produces a soft, wheezy whistle; female gives a quiet, duck-like quack. Pairs exchange rapid twittering notes during courtship on lily-covered African pools.
Geographic Range & Migration
New Zealand Merganser
Formerly endemic to South Island and Stewart Island, New Zealand. Extinct since the 1900s.
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Statut de conservation
New Zealand Merganser
African Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
New Zealand Merganser
Both sexes were dark brown overall; male had greenish-black gloss on head with slight crest, whitish barring on wings; female paler brown with rufous-tinged head and whitish throat.
African Pygmy-goose
Tiny. Males have glossy dark green head with orange facial patch and ear spot; chestnut-orange flanks; white underparts; black and green back. Females duller with dark eye-stripe. Small yellow-green bill.
About These Birds
New Zealand Merganser
An extinct flightless or near-flightless merganser (~900 g) of family Anatidae, endemic to the subantarctic Auckland Islands of New Zealand. Inhabited forested riverine habitats and fed on freshwater fish and invertebrates. Exterminated by hunting and predation from introduced mammals; last reliably recorded in 1902 and declared Extinct.
African Pygmy-goose
A tiny jewel-like duck—one of Africa's smallest waterfowl. Males have iridescent green-and-white plumage, an orange bill, and a dark green cap; females are mottled brown. Found on lily-covered lakes in sub-Saharan Africa. Perches on water lily pads and feeds on their seeds and flowers.