Ferruginous Duck vs Mandarin Duck
Aythya nyroca compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ferruginous Duck | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aythya nyroca | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 594.1666666666666 g (20.96 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 4-17 | 7-14 |
| 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.
Mandarin Duck
Wooded lakes, rivers, and ponds surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most ducks, regularly perches in trees and nests in tree cavities.
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.
Mandarin Duck
Male gives a low whistled 'hib' or 'weep'. Female utters a soft quacking 'kek'. Generally quiet and secretive. No loud territorial song; vocalizations subtle and brief.
Geographic Range & Migration
Ferruginous Duck
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Ferruginous Duck
Mandarin Duck
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; …
Mandarin Duck
Breeding males have an elaborate pattern of orange, green, white, and purple with distinctive orange sail feathers on the back. Females are grey-brown with a white eye-ring and stripe.
Small red bill in breeding males, pinkish 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.
Mandarin Duck
The mandarin duck is widely considered the most beautiful duck in the world. In East Asian culture, mandarin ducks symbolize love and fidelity because they form strong pair bonds. Unlike most ducks, mandarins nest in tree holes up to 9 meters above the ground, and day-old ducklings must leap to the ground.