Meller's Duck vs African Black Duck
Anas melleri в сравнении с Anas sparsa
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Характеристика | Meller's Duck | African Black Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Научное название | Anas melleri | Anas sparsa |
| Отряд | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Семейство | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Охранный статус | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Длина | — | — |
| Размах крыльев | 49,1 cm (19.3 in) | 49,5 cm (19.5 in) |
| Масса | 1023,625 g (36.11 oz) | 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) |
| Питание | Dives for fish and aquatic invertebrates in fast-flowing rivers; serrated bill grips slippery fish; diet … | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … |
| Размер кладки | 5-11 | 4-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Meller's Duck
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, and rice paddies in the eastern highlands and north of Madagascar. Prefers undisturbed native forest wetlands. Endangered by hunting and habitat conversion.
African Black Duck
Fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, mountain gorges, and waterfalls from sea level to 4,000 m across sub-Saharan Africa from Ethiopia and Kenya south to the Cape. Requires clear turbulent water with boulders.
Song & Call Comparison
Meller's Duck
Female produces a loud, resonant quacking sequence; male gives a soft, nasal grunt. This large Malagasy duck vocalizes with powerful quacking calls along forest rivers and marshes.
African Black Duck
Produces a harsh, resonant quacking call; alarm is a loud, emphatic quack repeated rapidly. Both sexes call with strong quacking; pairs duet with synchronized calls along African rivers.
Geographic Range & Migration
Meller's Duck
Resident in wetlands and lakes from Turkey and Egypt through East Africa to the Cape. Non-migratory and widely distributed.
African Black Duck
Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.
Охранный статус
Meller's Duck
African Black Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Meller's Duck
Dark brown-olive plumage streaked and mottled with pale buff; resembles large dark Mallard without green head. Iridescent green speculum with white borders. Yellow-brown bill; orange legs. Madagascar endemic.
African Black Duck
Dark blackish-brown plumage with bold white spots on back and scapulars. Iridescent blue-green speculum with white borders. Head dark with pale spots. Bill and legs dark gray. Sexes similar. Fast-flowing …
About These Birds
Meller's Duck
A large brown dabbling duck resembling a female Mallard but larger, with green iridescent speculum and orange bill. Endemic to Madagascar. Endangered; threatened by hunting and wetland loss. One of Madagascar's rarest birds.
African Black Duck
A medium-sized dark brown duck with white spots on the back, a dark bill, and orange legs. Found along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams in Africa. Territorial and monogamous; pairs defend stretches of river. Related to Pacific Black Duck.