How can you tell if a duck is a Ferruginius Duck or a Madagascar Pochard (2 Viewers)

[Xelioszzapporro!!]

Hello everybody. I decided to make another duck identification thread. So I can learn more. This time I want to learn how can I tell if a duck is a Madagascar Pochard (Aythya Innotata) or a Ferruginous Duck ( Aythya Nyroca)

To me they look identical. Can you please tell me about the difference in appearance or something else (like their calls) ? How can I tell who is who ?

This is a Ferruginous Duck (Aythya Nyroca)







And this is a Madagascar Pochard (Aythya Innotata)



@Bewick @aeshna5 @THE_FERN @Jeff Hopkins @Welsh Peregrine @Stephen Dunstan @jurek @Southern Viking @TheBlackGrouse @nartreb @Joern Lehmhus

 

[Bewick]

Madagascar pochard is a large duck while ferruginous ducks are medium sized, F.Ds have peaked heads while M.Ps typically have flatter heads with the steeper foreheads, male F.Ds are glossy birds with richer brown tones while male M.Ps have glossy heads but their bodies are much more dull. M.Ps also have a heavier bill, reminiscent of a Baer's pochards bill. M.Ps when in water appear more sunken compared to F.Ds.

Edit- Also wanted to add that the contrast between the M.Ps flanks and scapulars is extremely subtle while this is not the case for F.Ds.

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

And if you are looking at a living specimen then unless you are in Madagascar it will be a Ferruginous Duck; Madagascar Pochard is probably the rarest duck in the world, with none in captivity outside Madagascar!

 

[THE_FERN]

Just look at the head shapes, relative positions of the eyes, transition between the dark and light underparts, and overall colours

 

[jurek]

My book 'Birds of Madagascar' says that the biggest difference is a very large bill of MP. As others said, MP is generally an extremely rare bird, unseen for decades and confined to two lakes and one breeding station in remote part of N Madagascar, so there are few photos of it online.

 

[Xelioszzapporro!!]

Madagascar pochard is a large duck while ferruginous ducks are medium sized, F.Ds have peaked heads while M.Ps typically have flatter heads with the steeper foreheads, male F.Ds are glossy birds with richer brown tones while male M.Ps have glossy heads but their bodies are much more dull. M.Ps also have a heavier bill, reminiscent of a Baer's pochards bill. M.Ps when in water appear more sunken compared to F.Ds.

Edit- Also wanted to add that the contrast between the M.Ps flanks and scapulars is extremely subtle while this is not the case for F.Ds.

Just look at the head shapes, relative positions of the eyes, transition between the dark and light underparts, and overall colours

Thank you for the multiple informative points that you provided for me sirs!. Now I can tell them apart.

And if you are looking at a living specimen then unless you are in Madagascar it will be a Ferruginous Duck; Madagascar Pochard is probably the rarest duck in the world, with none in captivity outside Madagascar!

Not sure about ''the'' rarest but indeed one of the rarest for sure!

My book 'Birds of Madagascar' says that the biggest difference is a very large bill of MP. As others said, MP is generally an extremely rare bird, unseen for decades and confined to two lakes and one breeding station in remote part of N Madagascar, so there are few photos of it online.

It's indeed rare. But not unseen for decades. There are many videos of the duck online.

 

[Earnest lad]

An interesting question. I have dug a couple of images from my old notes as I thought about this myself some time ago. I hope this helps a little. I think the main distinguishing feature is the white patch under the tail. With Ferruginous Duck, it is large, clean and bordered cleanly. On the other hand the Madagascan Pochard's white patch under the tail isn't so "crisp" and merges a bit more gradually into the body of the duck at the front end.

 

[Xelioszzapporro!!]

An interesting question. I have dug a couple of images from my old notes as I thought about this myself some time ago. I hope this helps a little. I think the main distinguishing feature is the white patch under the tail. With Ferruginous Duck, it is large, clean and bordered cleanly. On the other hand the Madagascan Pochard's white patch under the tail isn't so "crisp" and merges a bit more gradually into the body of the duck at the front end.

Well looks like we now know another physical characteristic to differentiate the species thanx to you of course good sir!

 

[Earnest lad]

Well looks like we now know another physical characteristic to differentiate the species thanx to you of course good sir!

You're most welcome- I am no expert but am very happy to share what scraps I do have. - And it might be necessary to not rely exclusively on one id characteristic to come to the right conclusion.