Mallard vs Blue-billed Duck
Anas platyrhynchos compared with Oxyura australis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mallard | Blue-billed Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos | Oxyura australis |
| 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) | 30.8 cm (12.1 in) |
| Weight | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 837.75 g (29.55 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dives for aquatic invertebrates, seeds, and plant material in Australian freshwater lakes and swamps. Highly … |
| Clutch Size | 4-18 | 5-6 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Male produces a mechanical, splashing display call with loud bill-drumming; female gives a harsh quack. The male's bizarre bubbling-cum-drumming display is spectacular on Australian lakes.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Blue-billed Duck
Resident in southwestern and southeastern Australia. Found on freshwater swamps and lakes, avoiding arid and tropical regions.
Conservation Status
Mallard
Blue-billed Duck
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
Blue-billed Duck
Breeding male is deep rich chestnut with black head and broad bright blue bill; tail often held erect. Female is dark brown with finely barred buff pattern on body and …
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.
Blue-billed Duck
Australia's only endemic stiff-tailed duck (~840 g), family Anatidae, males recognized by deep chestnut plumage and a vibrant blue bill in breeding season. Inhabits deep freshwater lakes and swamps in southeastern and southwestern Australia. Dives for aquatic invertebrates and plant matter. Least Concern; dependent on permanent water bodies, vulnerable to drought cycles.