Mandarin Duck vs Eurasian Wigeon
Aix galericulata compared with Mareca penelope
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mandarin Duck | Eurasian Wigeon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aix galericulata | Mareca penelope |
| Order | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | 44.0 cm (17.3 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 70.0 cm (27.6 in) | 50.1 cm (19.7 in) |
| Weight | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) | 783.75 g (27.65 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … | Feeds on seeds, aquatic plants, and invertebrates in shallow ponds; broadly omnivorous and seasonally variable. |
| Clutch Size | 7-14 | 6-12 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Mandarin Duck
Wooded lakes, rivers, and ponds surrounded by dense forest. Unlike most ducks, regularly perches in trees and nests in tree cavities.
Eurasian Wigeon
Breeds on boreal and subarctic lakes and bogs across Eurasia from Iceland east to Siberia. Winters in huge numbers on estuaries, lakes, and coastal grasslands in western Europe and South and Southeast Asia.
Song & Call Comparison
Mandarin Duck
Male gives a low whistled 'hib' or 'weep'. Female utters a soft quacking 'kek'. Generally quiet and secretive. No loud territorial song; vocalizations subtle and brief.
Eurasian Wigeon
Male produces a clear, ringing whee-oo whistle; female gives a low, guttural purr. The male's bright, piping call is the classic sound of European winter estuaries and flocks.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
Eurasian Wigeon
Resident in New Zealand's main islands and some offshore islands. Non-migratory; inhabits rivers, lakes, and estuaries.
Conservation Status
Mandarin Duck
Eurasian Wigeon
How to Tell Them Apart
Mandarin Duck
Breeding males have an elaborate pattern of orange, green, white, and purple with distinctive orange sail feathers on the back. Females are grey-brown with a white eye-ring and stripe.
Small red bill in breeding males, pinkish in females
Eurasian Wigeon
Males have chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze; pink-buff breast; gray flanks; white belly. White forewing patch conspicuous in flight. Females rufous-brown. Compact with small bill. Dimorphic.
About These Birds
Mandarin Duck
The mandarin duck is widely considered the most beautiful duck in the world. In East Asian culture, mandarin ducks symbolize love and fidelity because they form strong pair bonds. Unlike most ducks, mandarins nest in tree holes up to 9 meters above the ground, and day-old ducklings must leap to the ground.
Eurasian Wigeon
A medium-sized compact duck. Males have a chestnut head with creamy-yellow forehead blaze, pink breast, grey body, and white wing patch. Highly migratory; one of Europe's most abundant wintering ducks. Grazes on short grass and aquatic vegetation.