African Pygmy-goose vs Freckled Duck

Nettapus auritus comparé à Stictonetta naevosa

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribut African Pygmy-goose Freckled Duck
Nom scientifique Nettapus auritus Stictonetta naevosa
Ordre Anseriformes Anseriformes
Famille Anatidae Anatidae
Statut de conservation Least Concern Least Concern
Longueur
Envergure 29,9 cm (11.8 in) 46,5 cm (18.3 in)
Poids 272,5 g (9.61 oz) 888,25 g (31.33 oz)
Régime alimentaire Filter-feeds on invertebrates and seeds; dabbles in shallow ponds; diet more plant-based outside spring breeding … --
Taille de la couvée 6-12 5-10
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Habitats partagés

African Pygmy-goose only

Aucun(e)

Freckled Duck only

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.

Freckled Duck

Dense inland freshwater swamps, tea-tree bogs, and reedy lakes across southern and inland Australia. Highly nomadic; follows ephemeral inland flooding. Key breeding sites in Murray-Darling Basin swamps.

Song & Call Comparison

African Pygmy-goose

Chant

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.

Freckled Duck

Chant

Soft, nasal 'quacking' and grunting sounds. Considered a quieter, more secretive duck than most. Males give a soft wheeze; females give low quacks. Not vocal by duck standards.

Geographic Range & Migration

African Pygmy-goose

Breeds across temperate to sub-Arctic Eurasia; winters in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

Freckled Duck

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

African Pygmy-goose

Least Concern

Freckled Duck

How to Tell Them Apart

African Pygmy-goose

Plumage

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.

Freckled Duck

Plumage

Dark grayish-brown plumage densely freckled with pale spots and streaks throughout. Head large and rounded with peaked crown. Bill gray-blue with red patch at base in breeding males. 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.

Freckled Duck

An unusual Australian duck with dark brown plumage densely speckled with small pale spots. Considered a living fossil with no close relatives—placed in its own subfamily. Males have a red base to the bill in breeding season. Found in inland Australia; highly nomadic following rainfall.

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