Hardhead vs Mallard
Aythya australis compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hardhead | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aythya australis | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 42.7 cm (16.8 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 803.75 g (28.35 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 6-18 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hardhead
Deep freshwater lakes, rivers, and reservoirs across Australia and New Guinea. Nomadic in Australia, following seasonal inland flooding. Prefers deep water with submerged aquatic plants.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Hardhead
Male produces a deep, purring wheeze; female gives a grating quacking series. Calls closely resemble Common Pochard; the female's harsh notes carry far across Australian freshwater lakes.
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
Hardhead
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Hardhead
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Hardhead
Males dark chocolate-brown with white undertail and flanks. White eye conspicuous. Blue-gray bill with white band and black tip. Females similar but brown with brown eye. Bold white wing stripe …
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
Hardhead
A medium-sized diving duck. Males have rich chestnut-brown body, white eye, and blue-grey bill; females are similar but duller. Australia's only widespread diving duck. Nomadic; follows inland flooding. Forms large rafts on deep lakes.
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.