Emperor Goose vs Mallard
Anser canagicus compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Emperor Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser canagicus | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 74.8 cm (29.4 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 2300.45 g (81.15 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes aquatic plants and terrestrial grasses; upends in shallow water; winter diet shifts toward grain … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 1-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Emperor Goose
Breeds on coastal tundra near the Bering Sea in Alaska and Chukotka. Winters on rocky coastal shorelines, kelp beds, and intertidal flats along the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Emperor Goose
A low, nasal 'clag-clag' call. Less vocal than other Anser geese. Gives contact calls in flocks during Arctic breeding and Pacific coast wintering. Somewhat quiet.
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
Emperor Goose
Breeds in the eastern Arctic of Canada; winters along the Atlantic coast from Newfoundland to Florida and occasionally to Texas.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Emperor Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Emperor Goose
Body plumage blue-gray with black and white feather scalloping. White head and hindneck contrasting with dark throat. Orange-yellow legs. Bill pink-orange. Tail white. Adults striking; 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
Emperor Goose
A stocky silvery-grey goose with a white head stained orange-yellow from iron-rich water, black-and-white scaly body, and orange-yellow legs. Breeds on Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim delta; winters along the Aleutian Islands coastline. Strongly tied to coastal habitats year-round.
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.