European Robin vs Mallard
Erithacus rubecula compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | European Robin | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Erithacus rubecula | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Passeriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Muscicapidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 14.0 cm (5.5 in) | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 21.0 cm (8.3 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 18.0 g (0.63 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Insects, worms, and berries. Often follows gardeners and large animals to catch invertebrates disturbed from … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 4-7 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
European Robin
Woodlands, hedgerows, parks, and gardens across Europe. Remarkably tame around humans, especially in Britain.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
European Robin
Exquisite, melancholic melody of thin whistled phrases, rising and falling softly. Rich, warbling song year-round; both sexes sing. Alarm call is a sharp 'tic-tic-tic'.
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
European Robin
Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa. Northern populations migrate south in winter; western European populations are largely resident.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
European Robin
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
European Robin
Olive-brown upperparts with a warm orange-red breast and face bordered by grey. White belly and undertail coverts.
Thin, pointed dark brown bill
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
European Robin
The European robin is one of the most beloved birds in Britain, where it is the unofficial national bird. Despite its friendly demeanor toward humans, robins are fiercely territorial against their own kind, singing year-round to defend territory. Their distinctive song is one of the first to be heard at dawn.
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.