Hawaiian Duck vs Mandarin Duck
Anas wyvilliana compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Duck | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas wyvilliana | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 573.25 g (20.22 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Fish-diving duck of South American rivers; uses serrated bill to catch fish and aquatic invertebrates; … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 9-13 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hawaiian Duck
Freshwater marshes, rivers, reservoirs, and taro fields on Kauai and other Hawaiian islands. Nests in dense vegetation near water. Threatened by hybridization with domestic or feral Mallards.
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
Hawaiian Duck
Female produces a raspy, descending quacking series; male gives a soft, nasal sound. Calls similar to Mallard but higher-pitched; alarm is a rapid-fire quacking rattle.
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
Hawaiian Duck
Ranges across sub-Saharan Africa in open grasslands and wetland edges. Locally nomadic following seasonal rainfall patterns.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Hawaiian Duck
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Hawaiian Duck
Mottled brown plumage; males may show slight green gloss on head but reduced compared to Mallard. Iridescent blue-purple speculum with white borders. Orange bill. Females similar to males; pale buff …
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
Hawaiian Duck
A medium-sized duck resembling a female Mallard, with mottled brown plumage and green speculum. Endemic to Hawaii; hybridizes with feral Mallards, threatening its genetic integrity. Found on freshwater wetlands of Kauai and other islands. Endangered; conservation focus on reducing hybridization.
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.