Yellow-billed Duck vs Mallard
Anas undulata comparé à Anas platyrhynchos
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribut | Yellow-billed Duck | Mallard |
|---|---|---|
| Nom scientifique | Anas undulata | Anas platyrhynchos |
| Ordre | Anseriformes | Anseriformes |
| Famille | Anatidae | Anatidae |
| Statut de conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Longueur | — | 58,0 cm (22.8 in) |
| Envergure | 48,1 cm (18.9 in) | 90,0 cm (35.4 in) |
| Poids | 907,6666666666666 g (32.02 oz) | 1100,0 g (38.80 oz) |
| Régime alimentaire | Dives for fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates; uses serrated bill to grip prey; diet shifts … | Omnivorous — aquatic plants, seeds, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. Feeds by dabbling, upending, and grazing … |
| Taille de la couvée | 4-12 | 4-18 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Yellow-billed Duck
Freshwater lakes, rivers, marshes, and dams across eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Uganda south to the Cape. Tolerates agricultural impoundments and urban wetlands. Largely sedentary.
Mallard
Nearly any wetland habitat including lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes, estuaries, and urban park ponds.
Song & Call Comparison
Yellow-billed Duck
Female gives a loud, descending quacking series; male utters a soft, raspy rehb note. The female's strong quacking call is the dominant sound at sub-Saharan African wetlands.
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.
Geographic Range & Migration
Yellow-billed Duck
Found across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Sedentary in freshwater wetlands.
Mallard
Native across the Northern Hemisphere in North America, Europe, and Asia. Introduced to Australia and New Zealand.
Statut de conservation
Yellow-billed Duck
Mallard
How to Tell Them Apart
Yellow-billed Duck
Brown body with scaly pale-edged feathers; head brown with paler face and throat. Diagnostic bright yellow bill with black central stripe. Iridescent green-and-black speculum with white borders. Sexes similar.
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
About These Birds
Yellow-billed Duck
A large dark brown dabbling duck with a striking bright yellow bill. Common in freshwater wetlands across eastern and southern Africa. Often found in groups near reed beds. Closely related to the Mallard lineage. Common in parks and on large lakes.
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.