Tundra Bean Goose vs Mallard
Anser serrirostris compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Tundra Bean Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anser serrirostris | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | — | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 2540.0 g (89.60 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 3-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Tundra Bean Goose
Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra in Siberia. Winters on agricultural land, river floodplains, and wetlands in eastern China, Japan, and Korea, with some wintering in western Europe.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Tundra Bean Goose
A nasal, lower call compared to Taiga Bean Goose. Considered subspecifically or specifically distinct; vocalizations are an active taxonomic tool for separation in mixed 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
Tundra Bean Goose
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Tundra Bean Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Tundra Bean Goose
Dark brown head and neck; grayish-brown back with pale feather fringing. Underparts pale gray-brown. Orange-yellow legs. Bill black with orange subterminal band. Recently split from Taiga Bean Goose.
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
Tundra Bean Goose
A large brown goose with dark head and neck, orange-patterned black bill, and orange legs. Separated from Taiga Bean Goose as a distinct species. Breeds on Arctic and subarctic tundra; winters in eastern Asia and occasionally western Europe. More common in Japan and eastern China.
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.