Brazilian Teal vs Mandarin Duck
Amazonetta brasiliensis compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Brazilian Teal | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Amazonetta brasiliensis | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 36.1 cm (14.2 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 468.0 g (16.51 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Dabbles for aquatic invertebrates and seeds; diet shifts toward plant material outside breeding season; forages … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 6-11 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Brazilian Teal
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rivers, flooded forest, and rice paddies across tropical and subtropical South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to northern Argentina. Tolerates natural and agricultural wetlands.
Mandarin Duck
Wooded lakes, rivers, and ponds surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most ducks, regularly perches in trees and nests in tree cavities.
Song & Call Comparison
Brazilian Teal
Male produces a nasal, whistled wheee-oh note; female gives a short, sharp quack. Pairs call back and forth with clear whistled exchanges along Amazonian rivers.
Mandarin Duck
Male gives a low whistled 'hib' or 'weep'. Female utters a soft quacking 'kek'. Generally quiet and secretive. No loud territorial song; vocalizations subtle and brief.
Geographic Range & Migration
Brazilian Teal
Breeds in Eurasia and winters in tropical regions from Africa to Southeast Asia. Migratory over broad fronts.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Brazilian Teal
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Brazilian Teal
Males have red bill and legs; brown body with dark brown back, gray head, buff-white face, and dark crown. Females have pale supercilium and paler face. Both show iridescent green …
Mandarin Duck
Breeding males have an elaborate pattern of orange, green, white, and purple with distinctive orange sail feathers on the back. Females are grey-brown with a white eye-ring and stripe.
Small red bill in breeding males, pinkish in females
About These Birds
Brazilian Teal
A small compact teal with brown plumage, red bill and legs, and males with a distinctive powder-blue speculum. Common in tropical lowland South America. One of the most widespread ducks in Brazil. Found in a wide range of wetland types from flooded forest to open lakes.
Mandarin Duck
The mandarin duck is widely considered the most beautiful duck in the world. In East Asian culture, mandarin ducks symbolize love and fidelity because they form strong pair bonds. Unlike most ducks, mandarins nest in tree holes up to 9 meters above the ground, and day-old ducklings must leap to the ground.