African Pygmy Goose (Nettapus Auritus)

Appearance:
Male - The male Africa Pygmy Goose has a white head with metallic black crown and hind-neck, metallic green ear patches, brown-red eyes, bright yellow beak with black nail, the lower neck, breast and flanks are a chestnut-brown colour, a white abdomen, the upperparts and tail are metallic green-black, the wings are green-black with a white streak, the legs and feet are dark grey-black.
Female - The female is similar but has a duller plumage with dark eye-stripe, and greyish-yellow beak.

Male	Female

Size: - Typical Adult is 28-30cm (11-12in).

Food: - Aquatic plants - particularly water-lily seeds, roots, leaves, grasses, and some aquatic invertebrates.

Habitat/Range: - Shallow lakes, swamps, slow-moving rivers with plenty of vegetation like water lilies in sub-saharan Africa down to South Africa, and Madagascar.

Breeding Habitat/Resident,    Migration or Winter Area.

Breeding Season: - Varies depending on locality and start of the rainy season. October to December in South Africa.

Eggs: - 6 to 12 (ivory-white colour).

Notes: - The African Pygmy Goose is a small African perching duck and is actually the smallest duck in Africa. They usually nest in a tree hollow near water and will perch on the branch of a tree.

Conservation status (IUCN 3.1):
  Least Concern.  

Classification: - Family: Anatidae,
Genus: Nettapus.