Mallard vs Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Anas platyrhynchos مقارنةً بـ Archilochus colubris
Side-by-Side Comparison
| السمة | Mallard | Ruby-throated Hummingbird |
|---|---|---|
| الاسم العلمي | Anas platyrhynchos | Archilochus colubris |
| الرتبة | Anseriformes | Caprimulgiformes |
| الفصيلة | Anatidae | Trochilidae |
| حالة الحفاظ | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| الطول | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) | 8,5 cm (3.3 in) |
| طول الجناح | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) | 11,0 cm (4.3 in) |
| الوزن | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) | 3,1 g (0.11 oz) |
| النظام الغذائي | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Nectar from tubular flowers, supplemented with small insects and spiders for protein. Feeds at over … |
| عدد البيض في الوضع | 4-18 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Deciduous and mixed forests, woodland edges, gardens, and parks with flowering plants. Migrates across the Gulf of Mexico.
Song & Call Comparison
Mallard
Female gives the classic 'quack-quack-quack', descending in pitch. Male utters soft nasal 'raeb-raeb'. Both give a high 'gag-gag-gag' when alarmed or taking flight.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Soft, high-pitched chattering and twittering 'chee-dit'. Also produces a thin 'tik' call in flight. Wing beats create an audible high-pitched humming buzz during hovering.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern North America from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast. Winters in Central America and southern Mexico.
حالة الحفاظ
Mallard
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
How to Tell Them Apart
Mallard
Breeding males have an iridescent green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, and grey body. Females are mottled brown. Both sexes show a blue speculum bordered by white.
Broad, flat bill — yellow-green in males, orange-brown in females
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Metallic green upperparts and greyish-white underparts. Males have a brilliant iridescent ruby-red gorget that appears black in poor light. Females lack the gorget.
Long, straight, thin black bill adapted for probing flowers
About These Birds
Mallard
The mallard is the ancestor of most domestic duck breeds and the most abundant and widespread dabbling duck in the world. Males perform elaborate courtship displays including head-bobbing and whistle-grunt calls. Mallards are highly adaptable, thriving in both wilderness and urban environments.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only breeding hummingbird in eastern North America. These tiny birds beat their wings about 53 times per second and can fly backwards, sideways, and even briefly upside down. They make an extraordinary non-stop 800 km crossing of the Gulf of Mexico during migration.