Amsterdam Duck vs Mandarin Duck
Anas marecula compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Amsterdam Duck | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas marecula | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Extinct | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 289.5 g (10.21 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Extinct Auckland Islands Merganser; fed on freshwater fish and aquatic invertebrates in streams; inferred from … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | -- | 7-14 |
| 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.
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
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.
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
Amsterdam Duck
Breeds on sub-Antarctic islands of the South Indian Ocean; disperses across the Southern Ocean when not nesting.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Amsterdam Duck
Mandarin Duck
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.
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
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.
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.