African Black Duck vs Common Scoter

Anas sparsa в сравнении с Melanitta nigra

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Характеристика African Black Duck Common Scoter
Научное название Anas sparsa Melanitta nigra
Отряд Anseriformes Anseriformes
Семейство Anatidae Anatidae
Охранный статус Least Concern Least Concern
Длина
Размах крыльев 49,5 cm (19.5 in) 44,2 cm (17.4 in)
Масса 996,8333333333334 g (35.16 oz) 1127,25 g (39.76 oz)
Питание Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal and freshwater habitats; diet heavier in … Dives for bivalves, especially cockles, mussels, and clams, in shallow coastal seas. Also eats crustaceans …
Размер кладки 4-9 6-8
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Общие среды обитания

African Black Duck only

Нет

Common Scoter only

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.

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Song & Call Comparison

African Black Duck

Пение

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.

Common Scoter

Пение

Male gives a soft, piping whistle; female produces a harsh, rasping call. The male's piping whistle is subtle; female's harsh calls dominate on European winter coasts and estuaries.

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Geographic Range & Migration

African Black Duck

Resident across South and Southeast Asia, from India to southern China and the Philippines. Non-migratory in most of its range.

Common Scoter

Breeds on moorland and boreal tundra from Iceland and Britain east to western Siberia. Winters on northwestern European coasts and the Baltic Sea.

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Охранный статус

Least Concern

African Black Duck

Least Concern

Common Scoter

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How to Tell Them Apart

African Black Duck

Оперение

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 …

Common Scoter

Оперение

Male is entirely sooty black without white markings; orange-yellow patch on upper bill with small black knob. Female brownish-black above with contrasting pale cream cheeks and throat.

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About These 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.

Common Scoter

A medium-sized sea duck (~1.1 kg) in family Anatidae, males entirely black with a knobbed yellow bill. Breeds on moorland lakes in northern Europe and western Siberia; winters in large flocks on shallow coastal seas. Dives for bivalves and crustaceans. Least Concern; monitored due to sensitivity to offshore energy development and oil spills.

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