Sunda Teal vs Mallard
Anas gibberifrons compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Sunda Teal | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas gibberifrons | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 38.7 cm (15.2 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 409.25 g (14.44 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, molluscs, and plant matter; diet varies with habitat between freshwater and … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 7-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Sunda Teal
Freshwater lakes, marshes, rice paddies, and coastal wetlands on Indonesian islands including Java, Sulawesi, and the Lesser Sundas. Non-migratory; resident on oceanic islands.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Sunda Teal
Female gives a nasal, descending quacking series; male utters a soft whistle. Calls resemble Grey Teal; heard across Indonesian and Philippine freshwater marshes and tidal ponds.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Sunda Teal
Breeds in the prairie pothole region and northern boreal zone; winters along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of North America.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Sunda Teal
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Sunda Teal
Dark brown body with finely scalloped pale feather edges. Crown dark; face paler buff-brown. Bill gray. Speculum iridescent green with white borders. Flat forehead profile. Sexes similar. Sunda Islands wetland …
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
About These Birds
Sunda Teal
A medium-sized brown teal with pale spotting, green speculum, and a high domed forehead giving the head a distinctive shape. Found on Indonesian islands from Java and Sulawesi to Lesser Sundas. Non-migratory island species. Threatened by hunting and wetland drainage.
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.