Madagascar Teal vs Mandarin Duck
Anas bernieri compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Madagascar Teal | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas bernieri | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 38.9 cm (15.3 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 365.0 g (12.88 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; diet dominated by hard-shelled benthic invertebrates year-round. | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 2-10 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Madagascar Teal
Mangroves, coastal lagoons, freshwater lakes, and rivers of western Madagascar. Endangered; restricted to small fragmented wetland areas. Nests in mangrove cavities or tree holes near water.
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
Madagascar Teal
Female gives a nasal, quacking series; male utters a soft whistle. Extremely rare; calls resemble Grey Teal but slightly softer; heard only in restricted Malagasy freshwater habitat.
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
Madagascar Teal
Breeds across northern and central North America; winters in the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Madagascar Teal
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Madagascar Teal
Plain warm brown plumage with faint spotting; head slightly paler buff-brown. Orange-pink bill. Dull reddish-brown speculum. Orange legs. Sexes similar. Endangered Madagascar endemic; mangrove and coastal wetland specialist.
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
Madagascar Teal
A small brown teal with fine spotted plumage, red eye, and blue-green speculum. Endemic to Madagascar. Endangered; restricted to mangroves, coastal wetlands, and freshwater areas of western Madagascar. Threatened by habitat destruction and hunting.
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.