Brent Goose vs Magellanic Steamerduck
Branta bernicla comparé à Tachyeres pteneres
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Brent Goose | Magellanic Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Branta bernicla | Tachyeres pteneres |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | — |
| Envergure | 63,9 cm (25.2 in) | 52,2 cm (20.6 in) |
| Poids | 1335,0 g (47.09 oz) | 4881,25 g (172.18 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Primarily herbivorous; grazes aquatic plants, grasses, and sedges; swans upend in shallow water for submerged … | Feeds on seeds, aquatic invertebrates, and plant matter; dabbles in wetlands; diet heavily invertebrate during … |
| Taille de la couvée | 1-10 | 4-8 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Habitats partagés
Brent Goose only
Magellanic Steamerduck only
Aucun(e)
Brent Goose
Breeds on high-Arctic tundra; winters on estuaries, coastal mudflats, saltmarshes, and sea-grass beds along Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. One of the most strictly coastal wintering geese.
Magellanic Steamerduck
Rocky coastal shores, kelp-fringed channels, and sheltered bays of Patagonian Chile and Argentina. Flightless; confined to coastline. Nests on rocky shorelines. Uses wings to propel across water surface.
Song & Call Comparison
Brent Goose
A low, guttural 'rronk' or 'ronk-ronk' from flocks. Soft nasal calls in feeding groups. A subtle, understated call for a goose — less loud than most Anser geese.
Magellanic Steamerduck
A loud, rattling, staccato 'kik-kik-kik' that sounds like a steam engine — hence 'steamerduck'. The wings also produce a loud churring sound as they beat the water surface.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brent Goose
Breeds across boreal and subarctic Canada and Alaska; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Magellanic Steamerduck
Breeds in the Arctic and sub-Arctic; winters on the open Pacific Ocean from British Columbia to Baja California.
Statut de conservation
Brent Goose
Magellanic Steamerduck
How to Tell Them Apart
Brent Goose
Small; mostly black head, neck, and breast. Small white neck-patch on adults. Back dark brownish-gray; belly pale gray to white depending on subspecies. White undertail coverts. Sexes similar.
Magellanic Steamerduck
Heavy, flightless. Males gray with white eye-stripe and orange-yellow bill. Breast and flanks mottled rufous-brown. Females more brown with white eye-ring and olive-yellow bill. Wings used for steaming.
About These Birds
Brent Goose
A small dark-bodied goose with a black head and neck, small white neck patches, and pale grey belly. Migrates between high-Arctic breeding grounds and temperate coastal wintering areas. Feeds on eel-grass and saltmarsh vegetation in winter. Three subspecies differ in belly coloration.
Magellanic Steamerduck
A large flightless steamerduck with grey-blue plumage, a rust-orange head (male), and massive orange-red bill. Named for its habit of steaming across water using wings and feet. Found on rocky Patagonian coasts and sheltered channels. Among the world's heaviest ducks at up to 6 kg.