Ferruginous Duck vs Mallard
Aythya nyroca compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aythya nyroca | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 594.1666666666666 g (20.96 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Eats molluscs, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates; dives in coastal habitats; diet dominated by hard-shelled invertebrates. | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 4-17 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Ferruginous Duck
Freshwater lakes, marshes, and river deltas with dense emergent vegetation in southern Eurasia from central Europe east to Central Asia and China. Winters in the Mediterranean, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Ferruginous Duck
Male emits a soft, wheeling purr; female gives a harsh, rapid quacking series. The male's quiet purring display call contrasts with the female's repeated, grating notes on Mediterranean marshes.
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
Ferruginous Duck
Breeds in boreal and sub-Arctic Canada; winters on the Atlantic coast from New England to the Gulf States.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Ferruginous Duck
Rich chestnut-brown head, neck and breast; white undertail conspicuous. White eye in males (brown in females). Dark back. Bold white wing stripe in flight. Compact and rounded. Males brighter chestnut; …
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
Ferruginous Duck
A small compact diving duck. Males have rich chestnut-brown head and body, white eye, and white undertail; females are duller. Found across Eurasia and Africa. Locally common on Mediterranean and Central Asian lakes; population declining. Near Threatened globally.
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.