Cotton Pygmy Goose

This species is defined as a rarity. Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page.

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 non-breeding visitor.

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Past accepted records in our database: (not a complete listing)

Photos:

Subadult female Cotton Pygmy Goose at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: Francis Yap
A pair of Cotton Pygmy Goose in flight at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Subadult male Cotton Pygmy Goose at Satay by the Bay. Photo credit: Francis Yap.
A pair of subadult Cotton Pygmy Goose at Satay by the Bay. Photo credits: Francis Yap
Cotton Pygmy Goose at Lorong Halus. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Cotton Pygmy Goose at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Cotton Pygmy Goose at Bidor, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong
Female Cotton Pygmy Goose at Bidor, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong.

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
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 19 December 2021

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.