Mallard vs Spectacled Duck

Anas platyrhynchos مقارنةً بـ Speculanas specularis

Side-by-Side Comparison

السمة Mallard Spectacled Duck
الاسم العلمي Anas platyrhynchos Speculanas specularis
الرتبة Anseriformes Anseriformes
الفصيلة Anatidae Anatidae
حالة الحفاظ Least Concern Near Threatened
الطول 58,0 cm (22.8 in)
طول الجناح 90,0 cm (35.4 in) 52,4 cm (20.6 in)
الوزن 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) 1248,25 g (44.03 oz)
النظام الغذائي Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … Eats aquatic plants, seeds, and invertebrates; dabbles in shallow water; diet varies widely between seasons …
عدد البيض في الوضع 4-18 4-9
Population Trend

Size Comparison

Body Length
Mallard 58,0 cm
Spectacled Duck
طول الجناح
Mallard 90,0 cm
Spectacled Duck 52,4 cm
الوزن
Mallard 1100,0 g
Spectacled Duck 1248,25 g

Habitat Comparison

الموائل المشتركة

Mallard only

بلا

Spectacled Duck only

بلا

Mallard

Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.

Spectacled Duck

Clear fast-flowing rivers and streams in temperate forest from central Chile and adjacent Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego. Requires cold turbulent mountain rivers with riparian forest. Avoids slow or muddy water.

Song & Call Comparison

Mallard

الغناء

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.

Spectacled Duck

الغناء

Emits deep, guttural quacking notes; alarm is a loud, repeated honking bark. Calls are resonant and powerful, carrying far along fast-flowing Patagonian rivers.

Geographic Range & Migration

Mallard

Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.

Spectacled Duck

Breeds in wetlands from Iceland to Siberia; winters in temperate and subtropical Asia, Europe, and North Africa.

حالة الحفاظ

Least Concern

Mallard

Near Threatened

Spectacled Duck

How to Tell Them Apart

Mallard

الريش

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.

المنقار

Broad, flat bill — yellow-green in males, orange-brown in females

Spectacled Duck

الريش

Dark brown body with fine pale speckling. Distinctive white 'spectacle' rings around eyes. Iridescent greenish-bronze speculum. Underparts pale buff-brown. Bill grayish; legs orange. Andean and Patagonian streams.

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.

Spectacled Duck

A large dark brown duck with distinctive white spectacle-like eye-rings, a pale buff face, and a prominent white speculum. Found in fast-flowing forest rivers of southern South America. Shy and elusive; inhabits clear rushing rivers through temperate forest. Also known as the Bronze-winged Duck.

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