Pink-footed Goose vs Mandarin Duck
Anser brachyrhynchus compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pink-footed Goose | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser brachyrhynchus | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 86.4 cm (34.0 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 2590.0 g (91.36 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes grasses and aquatic plants near rivers; takes invertebrates in breeding season; nomadic in response … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 2-8 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Pink-footed Goose only
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.
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
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.
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
Pink-footed Goose
Breeds on Arctic and sub-Arctic tundra ponds across North America; winters on both US coasts and Gulf Coast estuaries.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Pink-footed Goose
Mandarin Duck
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.
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
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.
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.