Pink-footed Goose vs Mallard
Anser brachyrhynchus compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pink-footed Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser brachyrhynchus | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 86.4 cm (34.0 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 2590.0 g (91.36 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic plants near rivers; takes invertebrates in breeding season; nomadic in response … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on tundra and cliff ledges in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard. Winters on agricultural fields, saltmarshes, and estuaries in Scotland, England, Netherlands, and Denmark.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Pink-footed Goose
A musical, high-pitched 'wink-wink' — noticeably higher and more musical than Greylag or Bean Goose. The 'wink' call is a reliable identification feature in winter flocks.
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
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra ponds across North America; winters on both US coasts and Gulf Coast estuaries.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Pink-footed Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Pink-footed Goose
Dark brown head and neck. Back grayish-brown; underparts pale gray. Diagnostic pink feet and pink-banded dark bill. Pale blue-gray forewing in flight. Compact and round-headed. Sexes similar.
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
Pink-footed Goose
A compact short-necked goose with a pink-and-black bill, pink feet, and warm brown-grey body. Breeds in Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard; winters in northwestern Europe. One of Britain's most spectacular winter visitors; massive roosts of over 200,000 birds occur in Scotland.
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.