Mallard vs Falkland Steamerduck
Anas platyrhynchos compared with Tachyeres brachypterus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mallard | Falkland Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos | Tachyeres brachypterus |
| 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) | 49.0 cm (19.3 in) |
| Weight | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 3799.0 g (134.01 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 4-18 | 4-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Falkland Steamerduck
Exclusive to rocky coasts, sheltered coves, kelp beds, and sea inlets of the Falkland Islands. Flightless; strictly coastal. One of the few bird species entirely endemic to the Falkland Islands.
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.
Falkland Steamerduck
Similar to Magellanic Steamerduck in call quality — harsh, rattling, mechanical. Falkland Island birds' vocalizations adapted for stormy, windswept coastal habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Falkland Steamerduck
Conservation Status
Mallard
Falkland Steamerduck
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
Falkland Steamerduck
Flightless; males gray with white supercilium and orange bill. Breast grayish-brown; flanks with brown mottling. Females brown with white eye-ring. Yellow-olive bill. Endemic to Falkland Islands.
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.
Falkland Steamerduck
A large flightless steamerduck endemic to the Falkland Islands, with grey body plumage, white belly, and orange-yellow bill. Males have a rust-orange head. Highly territorial and aggressive; pairs vigorously defend coastal territories. Feeds by diving in kelp beds and rocky coastal shallows.