Swan Goose vs Mallard
Anser cygnoid compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Swan Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser cygnoid | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 84.4 cm (33.2 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 3343.75 g (117.95 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 4-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Swan Goose
Breeds on steppe lakes, rivers, and meadows in Mongolia, Siberia, and northeastern China. Winters in eastern China's Yangtze River floodplain and coastal wetlands. Wild populations critically small.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Swan Goose
A deep, resonant 'honk'; less frequently heard than Greylag. The EN status reflects serious population decline; vocalizations are considered similar to Greylag Goose.
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
Swan Goose
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Swan Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Swan Goose
Long neck with rich chestnut hindneck stripe. Forehead and crown dark brown; face and throat whitish. Upperparts grayish-brown; underparts pale. Long black bill. Pink legs. Ancestor of Chinese domestic geese.
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
Swan Goose
A large long-necked goose with warm brown body, pale underparts, a dark brown cap, and a long straight black bill. The ancestor of the Chinese domestic Swan Goose breed. Wild populations are declining sharply. Breeds in Mongolia and Siberia; winters in eastern China. Endangered in the wild.
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.