Green Pygmy-Goose
Nettapus pulchellus
Tiny duck. Male has dark green head and neck with a white cheek-flash. Female lacks the dark head and neck, but has a strong dark eye-line continuing back to nape. Usually found in tropical freshwater wetlands across northern Australia.
Identification
Ranging from 30 to 36 cm (12 to 14 in) in length, the green pygmy goose is one of the smallest species of duck. It has a 48 to 60 cm (19 to 23.5 in) wingspan. It has a small bill and a compact form. The breeding male has a predominantly dark green back and neck, and a dark gray crown. The cheeks are white, and the underparts are pale grey and white scalloped. The tail, primary flight feathers and primary coverts are black, while the secondary flight feathers are white. The secondary coverts are a dark iridescent green. This iridescence is lost outside of the breeding season and the plumage becomes duller. The species exhibits a degree of sexual dimorphism — the female has a barred rather than green neck but otherwise resembles the non-breeding male. Immature birds are less brightly coloured, and have mottled dark brown heads.<p>The male has a high-pitched whistle and the female a lower-pitched call.
Taxonomy
First described in 1842 by the ornithologist John Gould, its specific name is derived from diminutive of the Latin adjective pulcher "pretty". It is one of three species in the Afro-Asian genus Nettapus, an ancient and unusual group of ducks. No subspecies are recognised.
- Scientific name
- Nettapus pulchellus
- Authority
- Gould, 1842
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
- Genus
- Nettapus
Range and habitat
The green pygmy goose is found in southern New Guinea and across northern Australia (from Western Australia, through Northern Territory and into Queensland). To the west, it commonly reaches Timor-Leste, where it possibly breeds at Lake Iralalara. It is largely resident, apart from dispersion in the wet season. The habitat is well-vegetated lowland lagoons and other permanent fresh waters.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Pachycephala lorentzi
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Spot-crowned Euphonia
Euphonia imitans
Tiny finch with a very limited range in Costa Rica and Panama. Male has typical euphonia plumage: dark steely-blue upperparts with yellow belly and crown and dark throat. Namesake spots on rear end of crown can be very difficult to see in the field. But note yellow is mostly restricted to front half of crown, whereas Yellow-crowned Euphonia has more extensive yellow crown. Scrub Euphonia is very similar, but ranges do not overlap. Female Spot-crowned is actually more distinctive than male; no other euphonia in range has rufous belly and forecrown. Found in pairs or small groups at all levels of lowland forest and edge, up to around 1,300 m.
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