Mandarin Duck vs White-winged Scoter
Aix galericulata compared with Melanitta deglandi
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Mandarin Duck | White-winged Scoter |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aix galericulata | Melanitta deglandi |
| 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) | 54.0 cm (21.3 in) |
| Weight | 570.0 g (20.11 oz) | 1647.1666666666667 g (58.10 oz) |
| Diet | Seeds, acorns, grains, aquatic plants, insects, snails, and small fish. Forages by dabbling, walking, and … | Dives for molluscs, crustaceans, and small fish in coastal and inland waters. Favours mussels and … |
| Clutch Size | 7-14 | 6-16 |
| 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.
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.
White-winged Scoter
Male produces a soft, whistled note; female gives a harsh, grating call. Similar to Velvet Scoter; the female's rasping call carries across North Pacific bays and coastal inlets.
Geographic Range & Migration
Mandarin Duck
Native to East Asia including eastern Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. Feral populations established in Britain and western Europe.
White-winged Scoter
Breeds in boreal forest and tundra of interior North America. Winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts south to California and the Gulf states.
Conservation Status
Mandarin Duck
White-winged Scoter
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
White-winged Scoter
Male is black with conspicuous white secondaries and a white comma-shaped mark below eye; orange-yellow bill with black basal knob. Female dark brownish-black with two pale facial patches and white …
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.
White-winged Scoter
A large diving duck (~1.6 kg) in family Anatidae, distinguished by white secondaries visible in flight. Breeds on freshwater lakes in boreal North America; winters along Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Dives for mussels, clams, and aquatic insects. Least Concern; North American populations remain broadly stable despite some local declines.