Cotton Pygmy Goose

Nettapus coromandelianus

By weight, the world’s smallest species of wildfowl, the Cotton Pygmy Goose is widespread in tropical Asia; the nominate subspecies’ range extending from India and Sri Lanka through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia to Indonesia and New Guinea. In north-eastern Australia the resident subspecies albipennis is slightly larger. The most sexually dimorphic of the pygmy geese, a male in breeding plumage is readily identified by his bright white head, neck and underparts, while the female is duller and browner, though with a conspicuous dark eye line. In flight the male displays flashing white primaries and secondaries that the female lacks. The male retains his breeding plumage for a relatively brief period; in eclipse he resembles the female.