Bird Guide

Blue-billed Teal vs Radjah Shelduck

Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota)

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Medium276 gWetland

Adult males have dark brown crown contrasting with paler face, throat, breast and side except for a blackish thumb-shaped patch on the ear region. The back of the neck is spotted with black and this spotting extends down through the neck and become intensively spotted on the breast, the spots appear to be larger and less obvious on the light brown flanks and abdomen, and the posterior underparts and under tail coverts becoming vermiculated with black. The scapulars and tail are dark brown to black, the upper wing surface is blackish as well, with the coverts giving a greenish gloss.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: i_c_riddell · CC BY 4.0
Radjah Shelduck (Radjah radjah)

Radjah Shelduck

Radjah radjah

Large885 gCoastal

Both the male and female of the species are mostly white, with dark wing-tips and a distinctive "collar" of dark feathers. When viewed from above, during flight or with wings outstretched, green bands are visible on the tops of their wings. To communicate, the female utters a harsh rattle while the male emits a breathy, "sore-throat" whistle.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) · CC BY 3.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Blue-billed Teal and Radjah Shelduck.