Black-bellied Whistling-duck vs Mandarin Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black-bellied Whistling-duck | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dendrocygna autumnalis | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 48.2 cm (19.0 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 757.9 g (26.73 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Grazes subarctic tundra grasses and sedges; winters on coastal salt marshes and agricultural fields eating … | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … |
| Clutch Size | 9-18 | 7-14 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
Freshwater wetlands, ponds, lake margins, flooded fields, and wooded swamps from the southern United States and Mexico through Central America to Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. Uses nest boxes readily.
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
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
A high, reedy whistle 'pe-che-che-ne' given in flight. Flocks produce a continuous whistling chorus. Also gives a squeaky 'whe-eee' contact call while swimming.
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
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
Inhabits freshwater marshes and riverbanks from southeastern Brazil to northern Argentina and Bolivia. Sedentary; locally common.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
Mandarin Duck
How to Tell Them Apart
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
Gray head with brown cap and chestnut breast; black belly is distinctive. Wings show broad white patch in flight. Coral-pink bill and long pink legs. Upright posture. Sexes similar.
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
Black-bellied Whistling-duck
A boldly patterned whistling-duck with a bright red bill, chestnut-and-black body, broad white wing stripe, and a distinctive whistling call. Common in freshwater wetlands from the southern United States to central South America. Nests in tree cavities. Often perches in trees—unusual for waterfowl.
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.