Mallard vs Resplendent Quetzal
Anas platyrhynchos compared with Pharomachrus mocinno
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mallard | Resplendent Quetzal |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos | Pharomachrus mocinno |
| Order | Anseriformes | Trogoniformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Trogonidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
| Length | 58.0 cm (22.8 in) | 36.0 cm (14.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 90.0 cm (35.4 in) | 50.0 cm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 210.0 g (7.41 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Primarily wild avocados and other laurel family fruits, supplemented with insects, lizards, and frogs. A … |
| Clutch Size | 4-18 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
None
Mallard only
Resplendent Quetzal only
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Resplendent Quetzal
Montane cloud forests at elevations between 1,200 and 3,000 meters. Requires old-growth forest with dead trees for nesting cavities.
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.
Resplendent Quetzal
Melodious, repetitive cooing: a series of 'kowee-kowee-kowee' or 'woh-woh-woh-woh' phrases. Male sings from high exposed perches in cloud forest canopy. Evocative highland call.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Resplendent Quetzal
Southern Mexico through Central America to western Panama. Resident in mountain cloud forests.
Conservation Status
Mallard
Resplendent Quetzal
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
Resplendent Quetzal
Males have iridescent emerald-green upperparts, a crimson-red breast, and extraordinarily long green tail coverts streaming up to 65 cm beyond the tail. Females are duller with grey breasts.
Short, broad, bright yellow bill partially hidden by green feathers
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.
Resplendent Quetzal
The resplendent quetzal was considered divine by the Maya and Aztec civilizations, associated with the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. Its iridescent green plumage and long tail streamers make it one of the most beautiful birds in the world. Guatemala's currency is named after this bird.