Cotton Pygmy Goose vs Crested Duck

Cotton Pygmy Goose

Nettapus coromandelianus

Large391 gWetland

Small individuals of this species are the smallest waterfowl on earth, at as little as 160 g (5.6 oz) and 26 cm (10 in). The goose-like bill is short and deep at the base. Males have a dark brown forehead and crown and a blackish green broad collar at the base of the neck. The sides of the head and neck are whitish. The back, wing coverts and scapulars are dark brown with green and purple gloss. The female has a duller cap and a brown line through the eye. The collar is replaced by spots and the face is flecked and neck finely vermiculated unlike the male.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Aalbert Rebergen · CC BY 4.0

Crested Duck

Lophonetta specularioides

Large1.0 kgWetland

The crested duck is a medium-sized waterfowl species, with adult males reaching up to just over a kilogram. Males and females look similar, with males having a slightly more prominent crest than females. The feathers of the mantle, back and scapulars are dark brown with pale centers, giving a mottled appearance. The abdomen, flanks and tail coverts are light gray, with the tail itself being distinctly elongated and black. The upperwing is gray brown to light brown, with the secondaries having an iridescent coppery to greenish sheen, with a broad back band behind, narrowly edged with white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Brian Ralphs from Wheaton, IL, USA · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cotton Pygmy Goose and Crested Duck.