Scientific Name: Nettapus coromandelianus
Malay Name: Belebas Kapas
Chinese Name: 棉凫
Alternative Name(s): Cotton Teal, Indian Pygmy-Goose
Range: Found from Indian subcontinent, Southern China, mainland Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia to Northern Australia.
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: coromandelianus, albipennis.
Local Subspecies: coromandelianus
Size: 33-38 cm
Identification: Male has blackish cap, white head-sides/neck and underparts, grey-washed flanks, glossed green upperparts and blackish collar. Non-breeding male has more greyish head-sides and flanks, a thick eyestripe and no obvious collar. Female and juvenile resemble non-breeding male but has duller/browner plumage.
Habitat: Marshes and other suitable freshwater wetlands.
Behaviour/Ecology: Forages for seeds, grass and aquatic plants and will also take insects.
Local Status: Rare visitor
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)
- Year in Review – 2021! (Blog)
Featured reports: Nov 2023
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Cotton Pygmy-Goose)
References:
BirdLife International. (2016). Nettapus coromandelianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22680090A92842427.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Cotton Pygmy Goose. Retrieved on December 5, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/cotton-pygmy-goose.