Mallard vs Cotton Pygmy-goose
Anas platyrhynchos compared with Nettapus coromandelianus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mallard | Cotton Pygmy-goose |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos | Nettapus coromandelianus |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) | 31.7 cm (12.5 in) |
| Weight | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 343.5 g (12.12 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Feeds on aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material; dabbles in shallow water; invertebrate diet peaks … |
| Clutch Size | 4-18 | 6-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Cotton Pygmy-goose
Freshwater lakes, ponds, slow rivers, and rice paddies with aquatic vegetation from India east through Southeast Asia, China, and New Guinea to northern and eastern Australia. Nests in tree holes near water.
Song & Call Comparison
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.
Cotton Pygmy-goose
Male emits a rapid, clucking chatter resembling a toy rattle; female responds with soft, muffled quacks. In flight both sexes produce a distinctive whistling wing-beat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Cotton Pygmy-goose
Breeds in northern Eurasia; winters in the tropics of Africa and Asia. Migratory; routes cross through the Middle East.
Conservation Status
Mallard
Cotton Pygmy-goose
How to Tell Them Apart
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
Cotton Pygmy-goose
Males white below and white-faced with dark green crown and collar; black back with iridescent green gloss; white wing bar conspicuous in flight. Females brown-gray with pale supercilium. Tiny; perches …
About These Birds
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.
Cotton Pygmy-goose
A tiny duck with males having striking white head and underparts, black back, and green iridescence on the crown. Found from India to Australia. Perches on aquatic vegetation and nests in tree hollows. Feeds on water lily seeds and aquatic plants. One of the world's smallest ducks.