Kelp Goose vs Mallard
Chloephaga hybrida compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Kelp Goose | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chloephaga hybrida | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 71.6 cm (28.2 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 2735.0 g (96.47 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | -- | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 3-7 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Kelp Goose
Rocky wave-washed shores, sea channels, and kelp-fringed coasts of Patagonian Chile and Argentina south to Tierra del Fuego, and the Falkland Islands. Strictly coastal; almost never moves inland.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Kelp Goose
A loud, nasal 'honk'. Male is mostly white and gives sharper calls; female is dark and gives softer, lower honks. Coastal Patagonian and Falklands habitat; highly vocal.
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
Kelp Goose
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Kelp Goose
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Kelp Goose
Extreme dimorphism. Males entirely white with yellow bill and legs. Females dark brown barred white overall; yellow legs. Coastal species of rocky shores. Sexes so different they were once considered …
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
Kelp Goose
A sheldgoose with stark sexual dimorphism: males are entirely white; females are dark brown with white belly and barred flanks. Found exclusively on rocky wave-washed shorelines where it feeds almost entirely on kelp and green algae. Endemic to Patagonian coastline and Falkland Islands.
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.