About Nettapus auritus (Boddaert, 1783)
The African pygmy goose (scientific name Nettapus auritus (Boddaert, 1783)) is one of the smallest perching ducks. On average, males weigh approximately 285 grams (10.1 oz), while females average 260 grams (9.2 oz). Individual wing length, not to be confused with wingspan, ranges between 142 millimetres (5.6 in) and 165 millimetres (6.5 in). This species has a short bill that extends up the forehead, giving it a superficial resemblance to geese.
Adult males have a white face with black eye patches. An iridescent black crown extends down the back of the neck, and this structure fringes powder green ear patches. The upper half of the fore neck is white, forming an open collar around the neck, while the base of the neck and breast are light chestnut. The flanks are a more intense chestnut, and the back is metallic green. The sixteen tail feathers are black. Wing feathers are black with metallic green iridescence on the coverts, with the exception of a white bar on the distal secondaries. The belly is white. The bill is yellow with a black tip, the feet are dark-gray to black, and the iris is reddish brown.
Adult females have a gray face with a dark brown eye stripe and smudged brown patches on the cheeks and nape. Their forehead, crown, and back of the neck are dark brown with slight iridescence. The breast and flanks are dark chestnut, and the back is dark brown. Wing feathers are dark brown-black, with the exception of a white bar on the distal secondaries. The belly is white. The lower part of the bill is yellow, the upper part is mottled brown with a dark brown tip, and the feet are dark-gray to black.
Ducklings have a white face with a black pattern similar to that of the adult female, plus a dark gray eye patch. Their black crown extends in a V-shape from the base of the bill to the back of the neck. The rump and flanks are white, while the back and tail are black. The neck, breast, and belly are light-gray to white, and the wings are black. The lower part of the bill is pink, the upper part is gray with a light brown tip, and the feet are dark-gray to black.
The African pygmy goose is a nomadic species. It occurs across a wide area of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It inhabits slow-flowing or stagnant water bodies with water lily cover, including mostly inland wetlands, as well as open swamps, farm dams, river pools, and estuaries.
