Crested Duck vs Mallard
Lophonetta specularioides compared with Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophonetta specularioides | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Wingspan | 53.8 cm (21.2 in) | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Weight | 941.3833333333333 g (33.21 oz) | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in ponds and marshes; diet more invertebrate-heavy in … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Clutch Size | 5-8 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Crested Duck
Fast-flowing Andean rivers, lakes, and puna wetlands from sea level to 4,500 m in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Occupies both coastal and high-altitude wetland habitats.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Crested Duck
Produces a harsh, rattling call and loud hissing alarm notes. Both sexes vocalize with grating, nasal croaking sounds echoing across Andean rocky shores and rivers.
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
Crested Duck
Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most abundant Palearctic ducks on the African wintering grounds.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Conservation Status
Crested Duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Crested Duck
Brown body with dark streaking; long pointed crest on hindcrown. Face and throat pale with dark eye patch. Iridescent purple-bronze speculum bordered white. Bill and legs grayish. Sexes similar. Andean …
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
Crested Duck
A large grey-brown Andean duck with a slightly shaggy crest on the nape, long neck, and bronze-and-black speculum. Found along fast-flowing Andean rivers and high-altitude lakes. Highly territorial; pairs defend stretches of river or lakeshores. Feeds by dabbling and upending.
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.