Cotton Pygmy Goose

Scientific Name: Nettapus coromandelianus
Alternative Name: Cotton Teal, Indian Pygmy-Goose
Malay Name: Belebas Kapas
Chinese Name: 棉凫 (mián fú)

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 (IUCN 3.1)

Location: Most old sightings were from the restricted Poyan Reservoir. Recent sightings were from Kranji Marsh, MacRitchie Reservoir and Satay by the Bay.

Photos:

Female Cotton Pygmy Goose at Bidor, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong.

Male Cotton Pygmy Goose at Bidor, Malaysia. Photo Credit: Chong Boon Leong

Female Cotton Pygmy Goose from Thailand. Photo Credit: Robin Tan

Male Cotton Pygmy Goose from Thailand. Photo Credit: Robin Tan

Cotton Pygmy Goose at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credit: Raghav

Cotton Pygmy Goose at Kranji Marsh. Photo Credit: Raghav

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

Video (External):

External Links:
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Photos: Oriental Bird Images
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

Reference:
Craig Robson (2011) A Field Guide to the Birds of South-East Asia