Mallard vs Flying Steamerduck
Anas platyrhynchos compared with Tachyeres patachonicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mallard | Flying Steamerduck |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anas platyrhynchos | Tachyeres patachonicus |
| 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) | 57.4 cm (22.6 in) |
| Weight | 1100.0 g (38.80 oz) | 2620.75 g (92.44 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … | Dabbles for seeds, invertebrates, and aquatic vegetation; widespread; diet varies from predominantly plant-based to invertebrate-rich. |
| Clutch Size | 4-18 | 5-9 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Flying Steamerduck
Freshwater lakes, rivers, coastal bays, and channels in Patagonian Chile and Argentina from the Lakes Region south to Tierra del Fuego. Partially migratory; some populations move to coasts in winter.
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.
Flying Steamerduck
A harsh, rattling 'rrrrr' and nasal calls. Flying Steamerduck can fly (unlike some relatives) and gives vocal calls in flight. Contact calls are clattering and guttural.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Flying Steamerduck
Breeds across the boreal and subarctic zone of North America; winters broadly across the southern United States and Mexico.
Conservation Status
Mallard
Flying 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
Flying Steamerduck
Males gray with chestnut-brown breast and white eye-stripe. Females brown-gray with white eye-ring and chestnut flanks. Orange-yellow bill. Only Tachyeres species capable of sustained flight. Wings larger.
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.
Flying Steamerduck
The only flying species among the four steamerducks, with grey plumage, rufous-washed head, and an orange-yellow bill. Can fly strongly unlike its relatives. Found in Patagonian freshwater and coastal habitats. Highly territorial; pairs defend stretches of river or lakeshore aggressively.