Hawaiian Goose vs Mandarin Duck
Branta sandvicensis compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Goose | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Branta sandvicensis | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 72.8 cm (28.7 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 2150.0 g (75.84 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Eats aquatic plants, algae, and grasses; upends in shallow water to graze submerged vegetation; diet … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 1-6 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Hawaiian Goose
Volcanic slopes, lava flows, coastal grasslands, and shrublands on Maui, Hawai'i, and Kauai. Adapted to rocky terrain with reduced toe webbing. Introduced to other Hawaiian islands. Avoids dense forest.
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
Hawaiian Goose
A soft, low 'moo-moo' — the murmuring call gives the Nene its Hawaiian name. Also gives honking calls in flight. Less vocal than Canada Goose; distinctive murmuring quality.
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
Hawaiian Goose
Breeds in sub-Arctic Canada; winters on large lakes and rivers from the Gulf of Mexico north to where water remains open.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Hawaiian Goose
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Hawaiian Goose
Buff-tan neck with black and white channeled furrows. Crown and face black; hindneck black. Body gray-brown above; underparts pale with buff breast. Reduced webbing on feet. Sexes similar. State bird …
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
Hawaiian Goose
Hawaii's state bird and the world's rarest goose, recovered from near extinction. A medium-sized brownish goose with a black face, pale buff neck with diagonal stripes, and reduced webbing between the toes adapted for walking on lava. Grazes on volcanic slopes and coastal areas.
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.