African Pygmy-goose vs Silver Teal
Nettapus auritus comparé à Spatula versicolor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | African Pygmy-goose | Silver Teal |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Nettapus auritus | Spatula versicolor |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 29,9 cm (11.8 in) | 37,0 cm (14.6 in) |
| Poids | 272,5 g (9.61 oz) | 409,75 g (14.45 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … | Dabbles for seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates; diet varies with season; forages in shallow ponds … |
| Taille de la couvée | 6-12 | 6-10 |
| 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.
Silver Teal
Freshwater wetlands, marshes, lakes, and flooded fields from sea level to 3,500 m in southern South America from Peru and Bolivia through Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Silver Teal
Male produces a soft, nasal prrp note; female gives a subdued quack. Quiet vocalizations suit the species' secretive nature in South American reedy marshes.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Pygmy-goose
Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Silver Teal
Breeds in sub-Arctic Europe and western Russia; winters on coasts of Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caspian Sea.
Statut de conservation
African Pygmy-goose
Silver Teal
How to Tell Them Apart
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.
Silver Teal
Black crown contrasting with white face and sides. Body pale silvery-gray with fine dark vermiculations. Bold yellow-and-black bill. Blue-gray forewing and iridescent green speculum in flight. Sexes similar.
About These Birds
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.
Silver Teal
A medium-sized teal with a striking black cap, white face, blue bill with yellow sides, and boldly spotted scaly-looking flanks. Widespread in lowland and mid-altitude South America. Often found in pairs or small groups. Feeds by dabbling in shallow water.