White-winged Duck vs Mallard
Asarcornis scutulata compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-winged Duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Asarcornis scutulata | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 68.3 cm (26.9 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 2950.0 g (104.06 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds, plant material, and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in shallow water; diet varies widely … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 6-15 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
White-winged Duck
Undisturbed lowland tropical forest near slow rivers, pools, and forest swamps at low elevations in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Sumatra. Requires large trees with nest cavities near permanent water.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
White-winged Duck
Critically endangered; extremely rare in wild. Gives low guttural hissing calls and soft wing-beating sounds. Vocalizations in wild scarcely documented given its rarity.
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
White-winged Duck
Breeds in northern Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. A classic Palearctic–African migrant with a wide wintering range.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
White-winged Duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
White-winged Duck
Dark brown body with pale spotting on head and neck. Bold white wing patch visible in flight. Yellowish-orange bill; legs orange. Head pale buffish-white speckled brown. Critically endangered SE Asian …
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
White-winged Duck
A large dark duck with a pale speckled head, brownish body, and broad white wing patch visible in flight. One of Asia's most endangered ducks. Found in undisturbed lowland forest near rivers in South and Southeast Asia. Nests in large tree hollows. Threatened by deforestation and hunting.
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.