Amsterdam Duck vs Mallard
Anas marecula compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amsterdam Duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas marecula | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 289.5 g (10.21 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Extinct Auckland Islands Merganser; fed on freshwater fish and aquatic invertebrates in streams; inferred from … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Amsterdam Duck
Historically restricted to Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Now extinct. Presumably inhabited the island's freshwater sources and coastal areas.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Amsterdam Duck
Extinct (EX). No recordings exist. As an Anas relative, likely gave a typical duck-like quacking call; male may have had a soft whistled note similar to other island teals.
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
Amsterdam Duck
Breeds on sub-Antarctic islands of the South Indian Ocean; disperses across the Southern Ocean when not nesting.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Amsterdam Duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Amsterdam Duck
Extinct Amsterdam Island duck known only from bones and a single historical description. Presumably brown plumage typical of Anas dabbling ducks. Flightless or near-flightless; extirpated by introduced predators.
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
Amsterdam Duck
An extinct diving duck known from subfossil remains discovered on Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Flightless or nearly flightless; probably resembled the Laysan Duck in size. Went extinct around 1800 following human colonization of the island.
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.