Bird Guide

African Pygmy Goose vs Black-headed Duck

African Pygmy Goose (Nettapus auritus)

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Medium266 gWetland

The African pygmy goose is one of the smallest of the perching ducks, and it has the average weight of about 285 grams (10.1 oz) for males and 260 grams (9.2 oz) for females. Length of individual wings is between 142 millimetres (5.6 in) and 165 millimetres (6.5 in) (not to be confused with wingspan). They have a short bill which extends up the forehead so they superficially resemble geese. The males have a white face with black eye patches. The iridescent black crown extends down the back of the neck. This structure fringes powder green ear patches.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa · CC BY 2.0
Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla)

Black-headed Duck

Heteronetta atricapilla

Large538 gWetland

The black-headed duck is the most basal living member of its subfamily, and it lacks the stiff tail and swollen bill of its relatives. Overall much resembling a fairly typical diving duck, its plumage and other peculiarities indicate it may not be a very close relative of the other stiff-tailed ducks, but rather the product of convergent evolution from the ancestors of the stiff-tailed ducks. The black-headed duck is about 35 cm (14 in) long. Males weigh an average of about 510 g (18 oz) and females 565 g (20 oz). Voice: The black-headed duck is usually silent. It does give a low "quah quah" as part of a courtship display, and also "a two note grunt followed by a whistle: – gr-rump-freet." Females make "clucking notes."

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Hugo Hulsberg · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: African Pygmy Goose and Black-headed Duck.