Crested Duck vs Mandarin Duck
Lophonetta specularioides compared with Aix galericulata
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crested Duck | Mandarin Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lophonetta specularioides | Aix galericulata |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 53.8 cm (21.2 in) | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) |
| Weight | 941.3833333333333 g (33.21 oz) | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) |
| Diet | Feeds on seeds and aquatic invertebrates; dabbles in ponds and marshes; diet more invertebrate-heavy in … | 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
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.
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
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.
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
Crested Duck
Breeds across Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most abundant Palearctic ducks on the African wintering grounds.
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Conservation Status
Crested Duck
Mandarin Duck
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 …
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
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.
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.