Upland Goose vs Mandarin Duck
Chloephaga picta compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Upland Goose | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chloephaga picta | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 82.4 cm (32.4 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 2916.0 g (102.86 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 | 5-8 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Upland Goose
Open Patagonian grasslands, steppe, and agricultural pastures in southern Chile and Argentina, including the Falkland Islands. Grazes on short grass. Males aggressively defend territories. Partially migratory.
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
Upland Goose
Male gives a high, whistled 'whew'; female gives a low, rolling cackle 'ga-ga-ga'. Sexual differences in call are pronounced. Falklands and Patagonian populations highly vocal.
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
Upland Goose
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Upland Goose
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Upland Goose
Pronounced dimorphism. Males white with black-barred flanks and white wings with black primaries. Females rufous-brown with black-barred flanks and white belly. Both sexes yellow-orange legs. Grassland species.
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
Upland Goose
A large sheldgoose with strong sexual dimorphism: males are white with black back barring; females are warm brown with barred flanks. Common in Patagonian and Falkland Islands grasslands. Gregarious; forms large flocks outside breeding season. Grazes on short grass and agricultural land.
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.