Nettapus auritus
The African Pygmy Goose, *Nettapus auritus*, is a truly enchanting member of the Anatidae family, though taxonomically it is a perching duck rather than a true goose. It holds the distinction of being the smallest waterfowl on the African continent, typically measuring just 27-33 cm in length, with a wingspan of 45-50 cm, and weighing around 240-290 grams. Males are strikingly adorned with an iridescent dark green or bronze cap, a bright white face punctuated by a black eye-stripe, and rich c...
This species exclusively inhabits calm, freshwater wetlands across sub-Saharan Africa, favoring slow-moving rivers, marshes, and lakes densely covered with floating aquatic vegetation like water lilies, typically at low to moderate elevations.
Their diet consists predominantly of seeds and vegetative parts of aquatic plants, especially water lilies, supplemented with aquatic insect larvae, small crustaceans, and filamentous algae, all obtained by dabbling on the surface.
African Pygmy Geese are largely diurnal, spending their days dabbling for food on the water's surface or perching on emergent vegetation and dead trees. They are generally wary birds, taking flight swiftly and often silently when disturbed, frequently in tight pairs or small family groups. During...
The African Pygmy Goose boasts a wide distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, spanning from Senegal in the west, eastward through the Sahelian belt to Sudan and Ethiopia, and continuing southwards to the northern and eastern parts of South Africa, as well as Madagascar. This species is largely re...
Least Concern
- The African Pygmy Goose is the smallest waterfowl species found on the African continent, barely larger than a pigeon. - Despite its name, it's not a true goose but a member of the perching ducks, exhibiting behaviors more akin to some passerines. - These birds are highly adept at perching in t...